14-Day AI Challenge: A Fast, Fun, Low-Stakes Way to Boost Faculty Confidence

To address the rapid integration of generative AI in higher education, this session showcases the "14-Day AI Challenge," an innovative "sprint" model designed to build faculty technical confidence through intentional daily practice. We analyze the transformative journey of faculty members from diverse disciplines as they moved from basic prompting to complex tasks such as redesigning assessments for "AI-resiliency." The challenge demonstrated a significant shift in perspective, moving faculty from initial hesitation to viewing AI as a formidable "thought partner" and collaborator. Participants reported substantial productivity gains, frequently saving 3 to 4 hours weekly on administrative tasks like professional correspondence and grant outlining. However, the initiative’s most profound impact was a pedagogical pivot. Faculty moved away from recall-based assignments toward higher-order thinking, incorporating metacognitive reflections and "human-in-the-loop" strategies to mitigate risks like "cognitive surrender" and AI hallucinations. Participants will explore qualitative data from faculty logs, highlighting the "best of" the 14-day tasks, such as using the "Expand" prompt for creative depth and "Explain" for simplifying complex jargon. I will share a practical roadmap for implementing this low-stakes, high-impact development model to foster a culture of responsible AI integration that prioritizes critical judgment over automated dependency.