SDSU Study Shows Faculty Gain Confidence Using AI While Maintaining Ethical Standards
Faculty who completed a generative AI micro-credential at San Diego State University reported increased use of AI tools and greater confidence with the technology, while continuing to emphasize ethical responsibility, according to research published in the Journal of Information Systems Education.
The study, led by David M. Goldberg, professor of management information systems, tracked faculty perceptions before and after completing the Academic Applications of AI (AAAI) Micro-Credential. Participants became more likely to use generative AI, less skeptical of its educational role, and more convinced that AI will shape their professional future.
Yet they maintained focus on verification and ethics. Faculty continued to stress the importance of checking AI-generated content for accuracy and considering ethical risks in classroom use.
What the Program Teaches
The micro-credential, developed in 2023 and launched in spring 2024, covers how generative AI works, ethical considerations, instructional applications, prompt engineering, and tool selection. Faculty who completed it produced practical materials: syllabus statements, ethical action plans, and annotated transcripts of AI interactions.
The program addressed a real gap. Students are already using tools like ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini. Many faculty needed guidance on how to teach with-and about-these tools responsibly.
"Our goal was not to tell faculty they must use generative AI," Goldberg said. "It was to give them the knowledge and critical judgment to decide when AI supports learning, when it does not and how to talk with students about those choices."
By the Numbers
During the initial rollout, 374 faculty members started the micro-credential. Of those, 145 completed the post-test and earned the official badge. Ninety-eight percent of completers said they would recommend the course to a colleague.
The strong uptake suggests faculty want practical support, not just policy guidance. They asked careful questions about bias, privacy, academic integrity, and the future of learning.
Expanding Beyond SDSU
The program has since expanded across California State University campuses and the San Diego Community College District. James P. Frazee, vice president for the Information Technology Division at SDSU, framed the work as part of the university's commitment to helping faculty lead through change.
"By investing in faculty development, we are strengthening the foundation for responsible AI use across teaching, learning and institutional practice," Frazee said.
For educators looking to build AI literacy skills, resources on generative AI and LLM courses and AI for education can provide structured pathways to develop competency in these tools.
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