AI-Driven Strategies for Higher Education: Transforming Teaching and Learning Across Schools with Virtual Teaching Assistants

Although some instructors are not allowed to use AI in higher education, 88% of students use AI for their higher education, according to the Digital Educational Council through the 2024 Global Student Survey. It is important to have flexibility and an open mind when adopting new ideas, especially when there is a huge impact on AI in education. In this manner, this session will share how the University of Rochester offers students learning through offering Virtual Teaching Assistants (VTA) across schools. Each VTA was set through a Learning Management System (LMS), so students are able to use it privately. Using VTAs in each course, students have the flexibility to ask any questions that are related to their courses and are able to study their exams 24/7. In this session, we will share a year-long journey of creating, developing, piloting, and launching across schools within the University. We will share details of the design, development, and deployment of VTAs, showcasing best practices, challenges, and successes.