UC Irvine introduces AI in Higher Education course for postsecondary instructors
Digital Learning Lab program targets AI literacy, instructional design, and scaffolded use of generative AI in the college classroom.
The University of California, Irvine School of Education’s Digital Learning Lab is launching a new AI in Higher Education course beginning summer 2026, aimed at postsecondary instructors and instructional support staff navigating generative AI in the classroom.
The three-unit, ten-week course will run quarterly and is delivered synchronously via Zoom. It is designed for faculty, instructional designers, and professional learning staff seeking structured guidance on integrating AI into teaching while maintaining academic integrity and skill development.
In a LinkedIn post, Tamara Tate, Associate Director of the Digital Learning Lab at UC Irvine, wrote that the course is “designed for postsecondary instructors, instructional designers, professional learning staff, and others interested in improving teaching and learning with AI.”
Framing AI as scaffold, not shortcut
According to course materials, the program focuses on helping educators critically evaluate AI tools and design accessible, meaningful learning experiences that scaffold instruction rather than replace it.
Participants will “critically evaluate AI tools and design accessible, meaningful learning experiences that scaffold learning without replacing it,” and “create AI-enhanced learning resources for their own contexts, receiving feedback and support within a diverse educational community,” Tate wrote in her LinkedIn update. The course also requires the development of a digital portfolio and final project aligned with professional goals.
The curriculum introduces foundational AI concepts, including generative AI affordances, limitations, and ethical considerations, with a focus on postsecondary teaching environments. No prior coding experience is required.
Ten weeks, live instruction, continuing education credit
The first cohort will run from June 2 to August 4, 2026, meeting Tuesdays from 4:00 to 5:30 PM PST. Tuition is listed at $750, with optional continuing education credit available for an additional transcript fee.
Course objectives include evaluating AI tools for instructional use, applying AI within teaching and administrative workflows, and creating AI-infused lessons tailored to specific subject areas. The program emphasizes ethics, equity, and responsible AI literacy alongside hands-on tool exploration.
As generative AI becomes embedded in higher education policy and practice, structured faculty development programs are moving from optional workshops to credit-bearing coursework. UC Irvine’s approach centers on helping instructors decide when AI supports learning and when it risks displacing core skill development, a tension many institutions are still actively debating.
ETIH Innovation Awards 2026
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