New Multidisciplinary and Professional Studies course leverages AI, other digital tools to advance people’s writing skills

Course to reinforce importance of writing skills while leaning into AI benefits

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — With the ever-evolving landscape of artificial intelligence impacting the way professors teach and students learn, Purdue Global is embracing the challenges and opportunities presented by those technological advances.

Purdue Global in January launched an AI Task Force for faculty and administrators to explore and discuss the possibilities of AI usage while also providing guidance for students on acceptable and unacceptable uses of AI in the classroom.

Additional information

• Purdue Global: Don’t fear generative AI tools in the classroom
• Purdue Global Law School launches Artificial Intelligence Law course

Purdue Global’s schools have been adapting to include teaching and the proper use of AI in coursework, as well as developing entire courses around AI. The School of Multidisciplinary and Professional Studies has launched a new course, Writing for Life: Leveraging AI and Other Digital Writing Tools, to help people use AI both ethically and productively to improve their writing skills for academic and professional purposes. The course is a self-paced microcredential.

“This course was created to address, in real time, the growing use and availability of AI tools,” said Michele Riley, associate dean of the School of Multidisciplinary and Professional Studies. “With the accelerating advancement of technology and employers’ growing demand for employees with communication and AI skills, Writing for Life equips today’s professionals with the skills they need for professional success.”

The course, which is available at no cost for learners, including currently enrolled students and the general public, features eight modules participants will work through to enhance their writing and reminds them that, while there are more communication platforms than ever, strong writing skills in a digital age are increasingly important.

“This microcredential fits in well with our larger Writing Across the Curriculum initiative, which focuses on empowering others through written communication within today’s dynamic, digital and globalized world,” said Michael Keathley, department chair of composition and writing across the curriculum in the School of Multidisciplinary and Professional Studies. 

About Purdue Global

Purdue Global is Purdue’s online university for working adults who have life experience and often some college credits. It offers flexible paths for students to earn an associate, bachelor’s, master’s or doctoral degree, based on their work experience, military service and previous college credits, no matter where they are in their life journey. Purdue Global is a nonprofit, public university accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and backed by Purdue University. For more information, visit https://stories.purdue.edu/purdue-global/.

Writer: Adam Bartels, adam.bartels@purdueglobal.edu

Sources: Michele Riley, Michael Keathley