OFFICE OF ACADEMIC AFFAIRS
February 2026
Ohio State’s colleges advance AI Fluency roadmaps for undergraduates
Ohio State has reached a major milestone in its AI Fluency initiative as colleges across the university have developed academic roadmaps showing how undergraduates will build and use AI skills within their majors.
In developing these roadmaps, colleges reviewed how faculty are already integrating innovative uses of AI into courses and instruction, while also identifying future instructional opportunities that will underpin AI Fluency.
Drake Institute sees strong early engagement with AI Fluency Teaching Endorsement
Since the launch of the Teaching and Learning to Build AI Fluency endorsement in autumn 2025, the Michael V. Drake Institute for Teaching and Learning has seen strong and steady participation from educators across the university.
At the close of January 2026, more than 1,300 participants engaged in at least one professional learning experience connected to the endorsement, reflecting widespread interest in integrating AI thoughtfully and responsibly into teaching while supporting students’ development of AI fluency.
Learn More About the Endorsement
AI Fluency Forum: Event videos
You can now explore presentations on teaching, research and institutional innovation from the AI Fluency Forum. In November, the Forum showcased how Ohio State faculty and staff are navigating the AI landscape. This page hosts the full library of 14 sessions for those who were unable to attend or wish to review specific presentations.
Watch Videos (Ohio State login required)
Project Firefly: The Carmen AI Assistant
Project Firefly is an instructor-controlled AI assistant that integrates directly into CarmenCanvas to provide students with immediate, course-specific support. Because the tool is built from course materials, instructors are encouraged to submit use cases to help refine its functionality and prompts and to ensure it aligns with real classroom needs.
AI Highlights
- The Campus AI Crisis: Young graduates can’t find jobs. Colleges know they have to do something. But what?
- International collaboration spurs AI-powered drug discovery tool
- OTDI expands access to AI learning through Coursera
Opportunities
Ohio State AI Research Summit
The Translational Data Analytics Institute (TDAI) and the AI(x) Hub at The Ohio State University invite you to the Ohio State AI Research Summit, a two-day interdisciplinary research conference focused on advancing interdisciplinary artificial intelligence research across campus and beyond. The summit will feature thematic tracks on AI and Health, Responsible and Secure AI, Data Science and AI Foundations, and AI and Manufacturing and Materials.
Drake Institute Spring 2026 Book Club
The Drake Institute for Teaching and Learning invites educators to critically engage with the evolving landscape of generative AI in higher education. In Generative AI in Higher Education: The ChatGPT Effect, Cecilia Ka Yuk Chan and Tom Colloton offer a detailed exploration of the opportunities, challenges, and ethical considerations of integrating generative AI into academic settings. This book provides educators with practical insights, frameworks, and case studies to navigate this new era of AI-augmented teaching and learning.
Sessions take place from 10-11 a.m. on Feb. 13, Feb. 27, March 13, March 27 and April 10.
Professional development incentive for the AI Fluency Teaching Endorsement
Don't miss out on the professional development incentive for earning the Teaching and Learning to Build AI Fluency teaching endorsement. This endorsement, which is open to all who teach and support instruction at Ohio State, helps educators understand AI and support students’ AI fluency through teaching.
Faculty and staff who earn the endorsement between December 2025 and August 2027 will be eligible to receive a $300 professional development incentive. Graduate students who earn the endorsement may be eligible for a transcript milestone recognizing their achievement.
Level Up: AI Tips for Small Business
This session is designed to help small business owners harness the power of AI to grow and streamline their businesses, featuring AI experts and successful business owners, who will share insights, tips and demonstrations on how AI can transform daily practices and business operations.
Teaching support for AI Fluency
The Drake Institute for Teaching and Learning provides a range of resources and learning opportunities to build your knowledge and skills around AI Fluency. Available to all who teach at Ohio State, the offerings will guide you to make informed decisions about designing learning activities that incorporate AI, communicating transparent expectations for AI use and employing teaching strategies that promote students’ acquisition of AI knowledge and skills.
Upcoming Events
- Feb. 11: Lean Into AI | Can AI Do That? A Live, Crowd-Sourced Exploration of Practical AI for Problem Solvers
- Feb. 12: Designing Assignments for Teaching about and with Generative AI
- Feb. 16: AI in Public Health and Healthcare
- Feb. 20: The AI-Enhanced Classroom: Purposeful, Thoughtful, Human-Centered
- Feb. 27: Supporting Student Development of AI Fluency
- March 9: Integrating AI into Your Research Workflow
- March 12: Steering into the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning and AI
AI Fluency at Ohio State archive
An archive of past editions of AI Fluency at Ohio State is now available at the link below.
Subscribe to the AI Fluency newsletter
If you did not receive the newsletter directly, you can subscribe to AI Fluency at Ohio State at the link below. Please share with others who are interested in staying up to date on AI Fluency news and developments.