Do you have something cool to share about the way in which you incorporated AI into your teaching? If so, you may win a prize for it!
The Center for Socially Responsible AI at Penn State is excited to announce the Teach-A-Thon, a University-wide competition celebrating innovative teaching practices in response to the rise of large language models (LLMs) and generative AI.
We invite faculty from all campuses and disciplines to share how they have thoughtfully adapted their courses to address the challenges and opportunities posed by AI technologies, be it in the form of lecture modules, classroom activities, student assignments, learning evaluation, or any other pedagogical activity related to teaching and learning. Submissions should showcase concrete changes to teaching practice, whether in course content, classroom structure, policy development, academic integrity approaches, or assessment and evaluation strategies.
Review the challenge details and complete the submission form below to participate.
- Competition Launch: November 19, 2025
- Submission Deadline: February 1, 2026
- Winners Announced: March 1, 2026
All Penn State faculty members and instructors are invited to participate in the Teach-a-thon. Collaborative submissions from teaching teams are also encouraged.
Participants should upload their materials and complete a short submission form using the link below.
Participants should submit a brief narrative or multimedia presentation (up to 500 words or 5 minutes) that highlight how you've incorporated AI into your teaching. This can be in the form of lecture modules, classroom activities, student assignments, learning evaluation, or any other pedagogical activity related to teaching and learning.
Submissions should showcase concrete changes to teaching practice, whether in course content, classroom structure, policy development, academic integrity approaches, or assessment and evaluation strategies.
Submissions must address the following items:
- Course Context:
- Course title
- Level
- Discipline
- Student audience
- Teaching Innovation: Describe the teaching modifications made in response to generative AI and LLMs. Examples may include:
- New course content that leverages LLMs (e.g., discussing LLM’s impact on the discipline being studied)
- Adjustments to course structure or delivery format (e.g., encouraging students to use LLMs as a virtual teaching assistant)
- Updated classroom policies on AI use and academic integrity
- Redesigned assignments, assessments, or rubrics
- Rationale and Impact:
- Why were these changes were made?
- How have students responded (based on SEEQ results, if available)?
- What is the evidence of impact (qualitative or quantitative, if available)?
- Reflections and Future Plans:
- Lessons learned and ideas for further development
The following prizes will be awarded:
- 1st Prize: $3,000
- 2nd Prize: $2,000
- 3rd Prize: $1,000
- Honorable Mentions: $500 each
Submissions will be evaluated by a panel of seven Penn State faculty members, all of whom participated in the 2025–26 Institute on AI, Pedagogy, and the Curriculum, hosted by the American Association of Colleges and Universities.
Submissions will be judged on:
- Innovation and originality
- Relevance and responsiveness to generative AI
- Clarity and replicability of the teaching practice
- Evidence of student learning or engagement
- Critical reflection on AI’s role in teaching and learning
- Accommodation of students who are informed AI refusers
- Share your creative and critical responses to AI in the classroom
- Contribute to campus-wide dialogue about academic integrity, innovation, and AI literacy
- Inspire colleagues and shape the future of teaching at Penn State
- Gain recognition for leadership in AI-informed pedagogy