Jordan Lott, senior manager of Technology and Learning and IT training, demonstrates an IT training lesson at the Thornton Administrative Center in 2019. The training was focused on the mail application. Photo courtesy of Jerry Harris, Communications Manager for IT
Corrections: Some errors appeared in the Feb. 13 article, “Pepperdine IT Introduces Groundbreaking Generative A.I. Essential Training.” DeJuan Oliver, lead technology trainer on the IT training team, first name was misspelled.That has been corrected. All misspellings of “Jordan Bautista-Lazo” have been corrected.
Pepperdine University’s Information Technology (IT) department launched an innovative training program focusing on Generative A.I. Essentials beginning Jan. 23, at the Thornton Administrative Center TAC and online. This groundbreaking initiative aims to equip staff and faculty with the necessary skills to effectively utilize Generative A.I. tools in their daily work while adhering to rigorous data security guidelines, according to Pepperdine Community.
This training is offering insights into the world of Generative A.I., and addressing concerns about its proper and secure use, Jordan Bautista-Lazo, technology trainer on the IT training team said. Participants will learn when and how to employ Generative A.I. tools responsibly, ensuring a positive impact on their work processes.
The training will also emphasize the importance of maintaining data security and confidentiality, aligning with Pepperdine’s stringent data privacy policies, said Jordan Lott, senior manager of Technology and Learning and IT training.
Empower Writing with A.I.
For Pepperdine faculty and staff curious about the potential of Generative A.I., in enhancing writing skills, the program will delve into ways to supercharge writing tasks, according to Pepperdine Community. Participants will discover how to harness the power of A.I. tools for efficient content creation, all while maintaining a focus on safety and security.
“The goal of the training is to help staff and faculty use A.I., in the workplace safely and efficiently,” Bautista-Lazo said. “We want to provide them with A.I. literacy to make informed decisions on whether they want to incorporate it into their work while adhering to Pepperdine’s data privacy guidelines.”
The training aims to instill A.I. literacy, empowering staff and faculty to make informed decisions regarding the integration of A.I., into their work, said DeJuan Oliver, lead technology trainer on the IT training team.
Faculty Focus
The TechLearn team will showcase the latest features and improvements of Turnitin, the plagiarism detection service integrated into the Courses Learning Management System (LMS), according to Pepperdine Community.
The workshop, titled “Turnitin: Guidelines & Best Practices,” hosted Jan. 31, aimed to provide faculty with insights into Pepperdine’s Turnitin policy, best practices and the expectations for plagiarism and A.I. detection, according to Pepperdine Community.
The upcoming trainings are focused on understanding the basics of using Chat GPT and BARD.
A subsequent workshop Feb. 2, titled “Courses: Gradebook,” guided faculty members through optimizing grading schemas, setting categories and weights and linking assignments to the Gradebook, according to Pepperdine Community.
Safe A.I. Practices
David Smith, professor of Economics and senior associate provost in IT and Online Learning and International Program Facilities, said he aims to provide insights into the IT training program and its significance from an administrative perspective.
“I think just, we want to embrace the opportunity that is brought by new technology but [with an] informed and responsible framework,” Smith said.
Confidentiality is a concern for both the administration and the IT team.
“We don’t know exactly where the data is going,” Bautista-Lazo said. “It’s going to be a part of the internet. So, some private data that was university data before [could] now fully [be] on the internet.”
The team said they outlined the agenda for the training, covering recommended tools, data guidelines and practical tips for safely using A.I. They said they are also planning to address the importance of prompt engineering, ensuring effective communication with A.I. tools.
“Our goal is to bring about a positive view of A.I., and categorize it in a way that shows how people can use it safely using Pepperdine as the starting point,” Oliver said.
Future of A.I. at Pepperdine
Pepperdine University is poised to lead the way in integrating A.I., responsibly, ensuring its workforce is well-prepared for the evolving technological landscape, Bautista-Lazo said.
“We’re realizing that A.I. administration is a big project,” Bautista-Lazo said. “After this initial wave of interest, we’re planning more A.I. workshops and potentially starting a series to go in-depth on specific A.I. topics.”
The IT training team highlights the significance of A.I., in the workplace, acknowledging its transformative nature and the need for continuous learning to keep pace with advancements.
“There’s about 150 people signed up currently, and this faculty, or about a third of them, are faculty, and then the rest are staff,” Bautista-Lazo said.
In anticipation of high demand, a waitlist option is available, and there are plans to add more sessions based on interest, Bautista-Lazo said.
For more information and to enroll in upcoming IT training sessions and workshops, visit the Pepperdine IT website.
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Contact Victoria La Ferla via email: victoria.laferla@pepperdine.edu or by Instagram: @vlf_insider
