Blog

AI is helping elevate nursing education by streamlining academic support and improving student learning outcomes. Assistant Professor Chris Macintosh uses AI tools to enhance writing feedback, strengthen evidence-based practice skills, simplify statistical concepts, and support job-search preparation. The approach reduces faculty workload while giving students more organized, accessible guidance. The result is clearer writing, stronger statistical confidence, and better preparation for professional nursing practice—showing how AI can enhance, not replace, the human connection in teaching and learning.

Chad McDonald and Matt Davis, Research Associate Professors at the University of Utah, have developed Virtual Motivational Interviewing (VMI), an AI- and VR-powered training tool within the Virtual Skills & Workforce Trainer (VSWT) platform. VMI provides social workers with repeated, realistic practice using AI-generated scenarios and a chatbot that simulates clients, offers feedback, and supports skill development in motivational interviewing. Modeled after Duolingo’s scaffolded learning approach, the platform delivers thousands of varied practice interactions efficiently. Early research shows the tool is well-received and performs as effectively as traditional training methods.

A new course, AI Prompting for Strategic Communication (COMM 3580), prepares emerging communicators to work confidently and responsibly with artificial intelligence. Taught by Professor Andy J. King, the class gives students hands-on experience with AI tools that streamline workflows, enhance creativity, and support real-world communication tasks. Alongside practical skills, students also explore ethical considerations and the limits of AI in professional settings.

Artificial intelligence is helping reshape how responsible leadership is taught at the University of Utah. Dr. Quentin T. Baldwin integrates AI tools to enhance personalized learning, accelerate research, and support more meaningful student engagement. From adaptive U-Bots that connect lessons to current events, to AI-assisted feedback and critical thinking exercises, these tools allow him to meet students where they are—promoting both equity and academic excellence. Rather than replacing the human element, AI serves as a partner that streamlines preparation, enriches discussion, and frees time for deeper mentorship.

AI is transforming multilingual education at the University of Utah, where faculty and graduate students are using innovative tools to create more inclusive and culturally responsive classrooms. Through new teacher-training courses and collaborative projects with bilingual students, Assistant Professor Tuba Yilmaz and her team demonstrate how AI can empower educators to support learners from diverse language backgrounds—without needing to speak every language themselves. Their work shows how technology can strengthen cultural understanding, build social connections, and promote educational equity across classrooms and communities.