USask AI Conference: Building AI Literacy
Wednesday, April 30, 2025
ARTS 263
9:00 am – 3:00 pm
Join other USask faculty and staff at this one-day, internal conference on Generative AI at USask.
Our keynote speaker, Dr. Simon Bates, UBC's Vice Provost and AVP Teaching and Learning, will provide insights into what is happening in higher education more broadly.
During the day you will connect with colleagues incorporating AI into their work, learn what USask has to offer in support of AI literacy and implementation, and share your recommendations with implementation planners regarding critical next steps.
All USask academic leaders, faculty, instructors, and staff are welcome and lunch will be provided. Registration is required to attend.
**Registration waitlist is available** If the event is full, we invite you to please join the waitlist and hold the date in your calendars. Our team will confirm with current registrants and notify folks on the waitlist of any available seats as they become available throughout April.
Questions can be emailed to Erin Holcomb - gmctl@usask.ca
Conference Overview
Through this opportunity to connect with our colleagues, we will,
Self-reflect on:
• What is my level of literacy with AI, and how do I use it?
• What questions do I have?
• What is our institutional readiness?
Exchange knowledge through round table discussions on:
• What are colleagues doing with AI?
• What types of tools are being used and what do they do?
• What are the opportunities and risks?
Hear about USask's AI directions and updates like:
• What is the University currently doing?
• Where is this going?
• What tools are available for use by staff and faculty?
• What is the process to get a tool approved?
• What is likely to be procured or developed in the next year?
Review implications and next steps:
• What do our results tell us?
• What advice would we give the implementation team about needs and next steps?
Keynote Speaker: Dr. Simon Bates
Vice-Provost and Associate Vice-President, Teaching and Learning, University of British Columbia
The role of Vice-Provost and Associate Vice-President, Teaching and Learning is responsible for the academic leadership and support to faculty and departments creating credit and non-credit learning opportunities spanning areas of undergraduate, graduate and lifelong learning at UBC. In addition, the portfolio oversees learning technology provision, new program development and academic integrity support to Faculties.
Dr. Bates joined UBC in 2012, as one of the first cohort at the new rank of Professor of Teaching, in the Department of Physics and Astronomy. He served as Academic Director of the Centre for Teaching, Learning and Technology for six years. In 2018, he joined the Provost's office as Associate Provost, Teaching and Learning, and was appointed as Vice-Provost and Associate Vice-President, Teaching and Learning, pro tem, effective July 1, 2022, and as Vice-Provost and Associate Vice-President, Teaching and Learning, effective July 1, 2024.
Dr. Bates has current research interests in the areas of advancement and impact of education-focused roles within Universities and how institutions are responding to the challenges posed by AI in teaching and learning. He recently served as academic lead for a project within the Association of Pacific Rim Universities (APRU) on the role of generative AI in higher education.