Center for Educational and Instructional Technology Research leads multiple GenAI projects exploring the transformation of education

The University of Phoenix College of Doctoral Studies proudly announces the establishment of the Phoenix AI Research Group, an initiative of the Center for Educational and Instructional Technology Research (CEITR), dedicated to advancing the understanding and use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in education, and in support of the higher education community.

“To harness AI's power, it is critical to identify its effects, challenges, and strategies to address and resolve these issues while ensuring responsible use,” states Mansureh Kebritchi, Ph.D., chair of CEITR, and founder of the initiative. “Our mission is to inform this work and empower higher education by conducting AI research, providing essential resources, and importantly, fostering a strong AI community.”

The Phoenix AI Research Group is committed to advancing the role of AI in education through innovative research projects with focus areas in human and artificial cognition, AI-enhanced learning and teaching, AI applications for research and innovation, tools for administrators, and the integration of AI across various disciplines in higher education. Additionally, the Group examines the ethical, social, and economic implications of AI in both education and society to ensure the responsible and equitable development and implementation of AI technologies.

A sample of current Gen AI research projects includes:

• Cognitive Implications of Human and AI Interactions, an in-progress project in 2025, exploring implications of the interaction between human and artificial cognitive systems during complex knowledge processes such as learning, sensemaking, and decision-making.
• Student and Faculty Support, an in-progress project in 2024 -2025, exploring faculty perspectives on use of AI for student support;
• Alternative assessment to prevent plagiarism, an in-progress project in 2025;
• AI-Powered Research Tools, an in-progress project developing/identifying AI tools to assist researchers in tasks like literature review, data collection, and hypothesis generation.

The Phoenix AI Research Group has already completed a number of projects during its nascent phase, including one on creativity, productivity, and large language models in co-creation of doctoral research questions, which was presented at the 2024 Association for Educational Communications and Technology (AECT) conference, and a project in 2023 on educational implications and strategies using generative AI in online courses in higher ed, also presented at the AECT conference.

The Phoenix AI Research Group is dedicated to offering accessible and impactful resources for educators and students, helping them effectively integrate AI into teaching, learning, and research. They assess AI-powered tools in education, including intelligent tutoring systems, personalized learning platforms, and automated grading systems. Their Generative AI Academic Resources site, offers helpful materials, including:

• AI-powered educational tools and applications: Access to a curated collection of AI tools and applications that can be directly integrated into teaching and learning.
• Best practices and guidelines: Practical guidance and best practices for integrating AI into the curriculum, designing AI-powered learning experiences, and assessing student learning with AI.

Focused on building community, the group also organizes workshops and webinars to bring together researchers, educators, and industry professionals to share knowledge, discuss challenges, and explore future directions in AI education. “Operating on the model of our College of Doctoral Studies, we want to foster a vibrant and collaborative Gen AI research environment that encourages interdisciplinary knowledge sharing among faculty, students, and researchers,” shares Kebritchi.

Learn more The Phoenix AI Research Group here.

About the College of Doctoral Studies

University of Phoenix’s College of Doctoral Studies focuses on today’s challenging business and organizational needs, from addressing critical social issues to developing solutions to accelerate community building and industry growth. The College’s research program is built around the Scholar, Practitioner, Leader Model which puts students in the center of the Doctoral Education Ecosystem® with experts, resources and tools to help prepare them to be a leader in their organization, industry and community. Through this program, students and researchers work with organizations to conduct research that can be applied in the workplace in real time.

About University of Phoenix

University of Phoenix innovates to help working adults enhance their careers and develop skills in a rapidly changing world. Flexible schedules, relevant courses, interactive learning, skills-mapped curriculum for our bachelor’s and master’s degree programs and a Career Services for Life® commitment help students more effectively pursue career and personal aspirations while balancing their busy lives. For more information, visit phoenix.edu/blog.html.

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