College of Arts and Science teaching fellowship recipient to study uses of AI in classroom

By Kristen McEwen

A Department of English sessional lecturer and teaching assistant is looking to observe the uses of Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) in the study of English literature.

PhD candidate Ian Moy is the first recipient of the Lesley Biggs Early Career Teaching Fellowship, a donor-funded teaching fellowship in the College of Arts and Science.

Moy received $1,500 to go towards his project, which involves using GenAI as a tool in the classroom to support students’ learning. By studying the use of GenAI as a tool for students in specific applications, Moy is reconsidering traditional ways of teaching in an English class.

“Receiving funding in support of a project that asks students to be active participants in their own teaching and learning provides the opportunity for me to break down unproductive hierarchies in education and mentor students as I’ve been mentored,” he said.  “And hopefully provides them with an experience that speaks to the importance of recognizing their educational career as a continuum, rather than a series of start and end dates.”

The Lesley Biggs Early Career Teaching Fellowship was created through the efforts of Dr. Benjamin Hoy (PhD), an associate professor of history at USask, and Wenona Partridge, Extended Learning Program manager with USask’s teaching and learning enhancement team. The fellowship is named in honour of retired faculty member Dr. Lesley Biggs (PhD).

“Applying for the Biggs Fellowship felt like the logical progression to build on the experiences I’ve been afforded in the Department of English to TA and teach as a sessional lecturer,” Moy said.

“As a member of the department, I’ve worked with and learned from award-winning professors who bring as much passion to the classroom as they do their research, including my PhD supervisor Dr. Wendy Roy, and Dr. Ann Martin and Dr. Lindsey Banco who are my faculty mentors for this Fellowship,” he added.

The College of Arts and Science is accepting donations to increase the scope or duration of the award program.

Donors can contribute through the online giving form (specify “Lesley Biggs Early Career Teaching Fellowship” in the comments field) or learn more by contacting development officer Erin Greer.

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