Spanish Faculty Earns AI Teaching Integration Award
The integration of artificial intelligence into education is revolutionizing how students learn and interact with course material. Recently, the University of Florida (UF) showcased this trend by awarding Instructional Professor Jennifer Wooten and Instructional Designer Laura Jervis the prestigious 2025 AI Teaching Integration Award. Their innovative approach to embedding AI into Spanish language instruction not only enhances learning outcomes but also equips students with vital digital skills.
### A Collaborative Effort
Wooten and Jervis’s collaboration centered on the development of assignments for Beginning Spanish I (SPN 1130) and Beginning Spanish II (SPN 1131) courses. They sought to leverage AI-driven tools to help students practice reading, writing, and conversational Spanish. By incorporating AI technology into these online courses, they tackled a significant challenge: creating an equal learning experience for both online and in-person students.
### Early Implementation and Challenges
The journey began in late 2022 when Wooten started using AI in conversation courses. She recognized the need for an asynchronous online class that delivered similar outcomes to traditional in-person classes. Her goal was to facilitate genuine communication in Spanish using AI as a supplementary tool. However, challenges quickly emerged. During early development, they noticed that while AI could identify grammatical errors, it often provided inaccurate explanations. This inconsistency made it difficult for Wooten and Jervis to rely solely on AI for student assessments.
### Focusing on Reflection, Not Just Output
Wooten and Jervis pivoted their approach from output-focused assignments to process-based activities. This involved having students submit transcripts of their AI conversations alongside personal reflections on their experiences. By doing so, they emphasized metacognition, a crucial component in language learning, while also fostering a more nuanced understanding of both the Spanish language and AI technology.
“Instead of focusing solely on the results, we encouraged students to reflect on how they navigated the AI conversation,” Wooten stated. This method not only reinforced language skills but also built students’ competence in using AI as a learning tool outside of class.
### Emphasizing AI Literacy and Language Skills
Wooten held true to the course objectives while introducing AI literacy into her curriculum. She understood that teaching students how to effectively utilize AI for language practice would extend their learning beyond the classroom. “The Spanish piece is the most important — it’s a Spanish class,” she explained. However, she also recognized that integrating AI literacy prepares students for a world increasingly influenced by technology.
### Administrative Support and Future Plans
Support for Wooten’s initiative came from the Department of Spanish and Portuguese Studies (SPS) Chair, Luis Álvarez-Castro. He commended her efforts and anticipated that recognition of this nature would inspire other educators to embrace AI in their teaching methods. “Language instruction has historically been at the forefront of technological advancements in education,” Álvarez-Castro remarked.
Encouraged by the positive feedback and their growing comfort with AI tools, Wooten and her team are already exploring opportunities to further integrate AI into their curriculum. They are working towards having Spanish and Portuguese courses designated as AI-enabled, paving the way for a more enriched educational experience.
### Addressing Concerns and Embracing Innovation
Recognizing that not all students are comfortable with AI, Wooten emphasized the importance of providing alternatives for those who may struggle with this technology. She views AI as a significant opportunity rather than a mere technical shift. “AI is potentially a really positive disruption,” she articulated, highlighting its potential to inspire innovation in static educational methods.
By engaging in conversations about technology’s role in language learning, Wooten aims to create a more inclusive environment where all students can thrive, whether they embrace AI wholeheartedly or require additional support. Through continuous exploration, experimentation, and commitment to effective teaching practices, the future of language learning at UF appears bright, with AI standing at the forefront.
