Affiliated Institution/Organization(s): University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Session Format: Presentation
Session Tracks:
OP – Online Pedagogy & Instructional Strategies
SS – Student Success
TT – Technology & Tools
IT – Innovation & Trends
Session Description
Generative AI offers new opportunities to support student learning, but general-purpose AI tools often lack the context needed for course-specific guidance. This presentation explores why faculty may want to create customized course chatbots and how they can do so using the University of Illinois Chat platform (chat.illinois.edu). Participants will learn how course materials, policies, and learning resources can be integrated into a chatbot to provide timely support, answer common questions, and reinforce learning. The session will share practical design considerations, implementation strategies, and recommendations for developing AI tools that enhance student engagement and success in online, blended, and residential courses.
Learning Objectives
- Create a customized chat bot in the chat.illinois.edu platform to offer to students for support, learning, or assessment.
Session Facilitator(s)
- Melanie Wiscount
Bio(s)
Dr. Melanie B. Wiscount is an Associate Learning Designer at the University of Illinois Gies College of Business in the Teaching and Learning Department, where she partners with faculty to design innovative online and blended learning experiences. Her work focuses on instructional design, authentic assessment, accessibility, and the strategic integration of emerging technologies, including generative AI.
With experience spanning K-12, higher education, and professional learning, Dr. Wiscount has taught at the undergraduate, master’s, and doctoral levels and has led initiatives that help educators effectively leverage technology to improve teaching, learning, engagement, and assessment. At Gies, she develops customized AI-powered course chatbots within the University of Illinois Chat platform, enabling faculty to provide students with personalized, course-specific guidance, timely access to resources, and scalable learning support beyond the traditional classroom
Dr. Wiscount holds an Ed. D. in Educational Technology and Educational Leadership from Wilkes University and is a recipient of the Presidential Award for Excellence in Teaching Mathematics and Science. She was also selected as one of only ten U. S. educators to represent Team USA at two Microsoft Global Forums, held in Washington, D. C., and Budapest, Hungary. She is passionate about helping educators implement practical, evidence-based innovations that enhance student engagement, access, and success. Dr. Wiscount is passionate about helping educators implement practical, evidence-based innovations that enhance student engagement, access, and success.