In this solo episode of The Prof Talk Pod, Becky Achen explains how she uses AI tools like ChatGPT and Claude to revise assignments that aren’t working. She outlines her process: diagnose what’s failing using student work, feedback, and reflection; document course context and constraints; prompt AI for ideas (often in multiple models); combine and refine suggestions; and then have the models critique clarity, missing details, and likely student questions. She then uses AI to help draft a rubric in her established style and revises for her own voice and course resources, while disclosing AI use. She shares an example converting a graduate crisis communication case study paper into a PR agency-style slide deck and presentation with a six-month image repair strategy and day-one response.

00:00 Show Introduction

00:28 Why Revise Assignments

02:23 Diagnose What Fails

06:14 Prompting AI for Ideas

08:41 Combine and Rewrite

09:24 Clarity Checks and Rubrics

14:31 Disclose AI Use

15:02 Case Study Makeover

20:57 Guiding Student AI Use

22:18 Wrap Up

In this episode of the Prof Talk Pod, Becky Achen and Katie Metz revisit scaffolding as a core teaching strategy, focusing on how to build students toward learning outcomes by providing more support early and gradually increasing autonomy. They discuss a workshop framing scaffolding alongside AI use, emphasizing what students must master independently versus where AI can serve as a thought partner, while noting equity differences between paid and free tools. Katie shares her federal tax course design using short pre-class videos, low-stakes checkpoints, in-class practice problems, team activities, and module conclusions that combine terminology checks with application cases. Becky shares redesigning a marketing course from exams to three scaffolded unit assessments that progress from recognizing concepts in daily life to applying target audience ideas to analyzing and improving strategy. They emphasize formative repetition, reflection, and “see it before you do it.”

In this summer episode of the Prof Talk Pod, Becky Achen and Katie discuss practical ways faculty can use the summer to rejuvenate while still setting themselves up for a manageable fall. They talk about the realities of 9-, 10-, and 12-month contracts, the lack of PTO for many faculty, and why it can be appropriate to truly step away from email and teaching tasks when classes slow down. They emphasize balancing self-care with research and service expectations by clarifying departmental norms, setting realistic and concrete research goals, and planning ahead for course prep that may change year to year. They also suggest summer professional development (like AI courses), reading a teaching-related “pool book,” exploring campus resources, spending time outdoors, and building habits that reduce stress and burnout once the semester begins.