After Event Report on Faculty Development Program

Event Title: 7 Days FDP on Generative AI and Advanced Tools for Academic Research 

Event Dates: November 04 – 10, 2024 

Duration: 7 Days 

Total Participants: 159 participants from various parts of India. 

Instructor: Roshan Singh 

Event Host: Scrollwell 

Overview of Scrollwell 

Scrollwell is a dynamic and emerging organization dedicated to revolutionizing the education sector by offering specialized live training programs for professional development. Our mission is to enhance the skills of educators, especially in adapting to the ever-evolving digital landscape. We have successfully delivered a series of Faculty Development Programs (FDPs) focused on Digital Literacy, which have impacted over 44,000 educators from July 2020 to March 2024. 

Recognized by esteemed organizations such as Startup India, MSME, and Skill India, and supported by Start-up Bihar and Centre for Innovation, Incubation & Legal Entrepreneurship (Chanakya National Law University, Patna), Scrollwell continues to lead the way in preparing educators for the challenges of modern teaching and research.

PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS

This FDP focused on the integration of Generative AI tools and their practical applications in academic research. The participants were introduced to foundational AI concepts, AI-based research tools, and the ethical considerations involved in utilizing AI for academic work. The program emphasized both theoretical knowledge and hands-on experience, ensuring that participants left with practical skills that could immediately enhance their academic research processes. 

Key Sessions and Topics 

1. Introduction to AI in Academic Research 

• Objective: Introduce foundational AI concepts and applications in academic research. 

• Content: Participants explored the role of AI in advancing research methodologies and how AI is transforming academic disciplines. 

• Outcome: A foundational understanding of how AI can be applied to research was provided, and participants learned its potential impact on various fields of study. 

2. Utilizing ChatGPT and Other AI Tools in Research 

• Objective: Show how AI tools like ChatGPT can enhance academic research processes. 

• Content: Practical demonstrations of ChatGPT for generating research ideas, refining questions, and assisting in literature reviews. Introduction to other AI tools like LitMaps, Research Rabbit, Elicit, R-Discovery, Scholarcy, and Prism. 

• Outcome: Participants gained the ability to effectively integrate AI tools into their research workflows, enhancing creativity and efficiency. 

3. Application of Research-Based AI Tools 

• Objective: Provide hands-on experience with AI tools in the context of academic research. 

• Content: Step-by-step guidance on applying AI tools for data analysis and interpretation. Interactive sessions allowed participants to use AI tools on their research projects. 

• Outcome: Participants developed practical skills in applying AI tools, enabling them to enhance their ongoing and future research efforts. 

4. Research Paper Writing Using MS Word 

• Objective: Enhance participants’ research paper writing and formatting skills. 

• Content: Participants received detailed guidance on formatting papers according to academic style guides, writing concise abstracts and conclusions, and utilizing MS Word features such as citation management and table of contents generation. 

• Outcome: By the end of the session, participants were proficient in writing and formatting research papers with adherence to academic standards. 

5. Reference Management 

• Objective: Improve participants’ ability to manage references and citations effectively. 

• Content: Introduction to reference management tools such as EndNote, Zotero, and Mendeley. Best practices were discussed for organizing and managing citations and creating accurate bibliographies. 

• Outcome: Participants gained the skills needed to automate bibliography creation and manage references with accuracy and consistency. 

6. Ethical Dilemmas in AI-Driven Research 

• Objective: Address the ethical considerations of AI in academic research. 

• Content: Discussions on issues like bias, fairness, transparency, and the ethical challenges involved in using AI for research. Participants also explored best practices for responsible AI use. 

• Outcome: Participants became aware of the ethical challenges in AI-driven research and learned how to approach their research with heightened ethical awareness. 

7. AI for PPT Generation 

• Objective: Explore how AI can streamline the creation of professional presentations. 

• Content: Introduction to AI-powered tools for generating PowerPoint presentations, including text, image, and layout suggestions. A live demo was provided for participants to experience the content generation process. 

• Outcome: Participants learned how to utilize AI tools for creating impactful and professional presentations with ease. 

Participant Engagement and Interaction 

The program incorporated a blend of lectures, demonstrations, and interactive hands-on sessions, fostering a high level of engagement among participants. Group discussions allowed participants to share their experiences and insights, particularly in applying AI tools to their ongoing research. Real-time problem-solving sessions ensured that participants could immediately address any challenges they encountered while applying AI tools. 

Feedback from Participants 

• Positive Feedback: The majority of participants expressed great satisfaction with the comprehensive nature of the program, specifically highlighting the value of hands-on sessions and practical demonstrations of AI tools. Many participants noted that the content on ethical considerations in AI-driven research was timely and highly relevant to their work. 

• Suggestions for Improvement: Some participants requested more in-depth sessions on specific AI tools like LitMaps and Research Rabbit, while others suggested additional case studies or real-life examples to demonstrate how AI is transforming research in different academic fields. 

Conclusion 

The 7-Day FDP on Generative AI and Advanced Tools for Academic Research successfully met its objectives by providing participants with a thorough understanding of AI in academic research, practical skills in using AI tools, and ethical guidelines for responsible research practices. The program empowered educators and researchers to integrate advanced AI technologies into their work, increasing their efficiency, creativity, and overall research output. 

As part of Scrollwell’s ongoing commitment to supporting the professional development of educators and researchers, this FDP served as an important step in preparing the next generation of academics to thrive in a digital-first academic environment. 

Acknowledgments 

We extend our sincere gratitude to Roshan Singh, our instructor, for his insightful and engaging sessions throughout the program. We also thank all participants for their active involvement and contributions to the success of this program. Special thanks to Scrollwell for organizing this impactful FDP and to all the partner organizations for their support.