Artificial intelligence isn’t a silver bullet for teaching and learning—but used well, it can free up time, deepen feedback, and help personalize learning at scale. For our debut Owl Talk episode, Rice Digital Learning sits down with Kathleen Perley, Faculty and AI Advisor to the Deans at Rice Business to unpack AI’s role in higher ed right now, concrete ways faculty are using AI to save time and strengthen learning, and how faculty can help prepare students for the job market no matter what industry.
What you’ll hear in this podcast episode
- Time back for teaching: How AI can draft rubrics, generate practice prompts, and summarize discussions—so faculty can focus on coaching and higher-order feedback.
- Academic integrity—made stronger: Clear classroom expectations, process-based assignments, and reflection strategies that keep learning—not “gotcha”—at the center.
- Assessment in an AI era: What to change (and what not to) when students have access to AI tools.
- Equity and access: Practical guardrails when students have different levels of technology access and experience.
- Employer expectations: What hiring managers want graduates to be able to do with AI—and how courses can help students demonstrate those skills.
This episode also highlights Teaching with AI at Rice: From Curiosity to Confidence, a Canvas course for Rice faculty Rice Digital Learning helped Kathleen plan, design, produce, and launch with our team of in-house course designers and video producers.
More about the AI course for Rice faculty
Course Name: Teaching with AI at Rice: From Curiosity to Confidence - Taught by Kathleen Perley
Faculty who complete the course will learn how to:
- write clearer, more effective prompts;
- cut busywork and save prep time;
- choose classroom-ready tools that fit your goals;
- set transparent, equitable guidelines for student use;
- recognize and address bias in AI outputs and data;
- apply safety, privacy, and academic-integrity principles in your course;
- explain core AI concepts to students in plain language (what LLMs do and don’t do).
Format: short modules, hands-on activities, real-world examples, reflection prompts
Intended Audience: Rice faculty (all disciplines; no prior AI experience required)
There are two ways to enroll:
- Rice faculty received a Canvas link to register.
- Or visit the digital.rice.edu website or Click Here To Enroll
Following the Summer 2025 course launch, RDL announced in Fall 2025 a new AI funding initiative for Rice faculty—offering grants, collaboration opportunities, and resources to test ideas, develop courses, and scale what works.
Expanding support across campus
Program: Accelerating Responsible AI for Education — 2025 Funding and Collaboration Opportunities
Offered by: Rice Digital Learning & Strategy
Rice faculty can apply for four tracks designed to build community, test ideas, launch AI-integrated courses, and share Rice expertise
- Faculty Learning Communities (FLCs): School-based, peer-led cohorts that meet across the academic year and produce a shareable resource.
- AI Exploration Grants: Seed support for small teaching experiments or a structured pilot with OpenStax Assignable.
- AI Course Development Grants: Funding to create new—or significantly revise—credit-bearing courses that integrate AI.
- Public-Facing Responsible AI Courses: Support to develop non-credit or professional offerings (e.g., Coursera, Glasscock School) that showcase Rice expertise.
Who qualifies: All Rice faculty (tenured, tenure-track, and non-tenure-track); teams and departments are welcome. Key staff may participate in FLCs where relevant.
Timing: Proposals are being accepted now; most opportunities run 2025–26 with some on a rolling basis.
Apply: Review details and submit a proposal: Click here to learn more and apply.
Get involved
- Got ideas or suggestions for our next podcast? Reach out to Daniel Villanueva dv50@rice.edu .
- Interested in the course? Register to enroll in Teaching with AI at Rice: From Curiosity to Confidence .
- Exploring funding? You can learn about this year’s grants, collaboration opportunities, and the application process at digital.rice.edu/ai-education .