Technology Tricks for Higher-Ed

AI Prompts for Research, Thesis/Dissertation Support, and Grant Writing: Practical Starting Tools for Higher Ed Faculty and Graduate Students Research, thesis/dissertation work, and grant writing remain some of the most time-intensive parts of academic life. Whether you’re a faculty member mentoring students, a graduate student deep in your own project, or an early-career researcher chasing funding, these tasks can easily consume months of effort. In 2026, generative AI tools (ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, Perplexity, and institutional platforms) can meaningfully accelerate the process:  when used ethically and strategically . The key is treating AI as a thoughtful collaborator rather than a replacement for your expertise, critical thinking, or institutional requirements. Below are practical, ready-to-use starter prompts in each of the three core areas. These are designed to give you immediate wins while keeping you firmly in control of the final work.  Copy, paste, and customize t...

 NotebookLM in Higher Education What Is NotebookLM? NotebookLM is an AI‑powered research and learning tool from Google that works only with the materials you provide it—such as PDFs, Word docs, Google Docs, slides, web pages, videos, and audio files. Unlike general AI chatbots, it does not pull from the open internet when answering questions. Instead, it becomes a thinking partner grounded entirely in your uploaded course or research content, with clickable citations back to the original source passages . [notebooklm.google] Think of it as an AI‑assisted, citation‑aware notebook that helps faculty and students: Read complex material faster Identify key themes Generate study guides and summaries Ask questions directly of their course content Why Are University Faculty Using NotebookLM More? Faculty adoption has increased because NotebookLM directly addresses several long‑standing concerns in higher education about AI use: 1. Responses Are Source‑Bound and Verifiable NotebookLM ...

  Unlocking the Potential of AI Agents in Higher Education: A Guide for Faculty, Staff and IT Professionals In the fast-evolving landscape of higher education, where faculty juggle teaching and research, staff manage endless administrative tasks, and IT teams keep everything running securely, AI agents are emerging as game-changers. As of March 2026, institutions like the University of Michigan and Johns Hopkins are already deploying these intelligent systems to boost efficiency and student outcomes. Imagine an AI that doesn't just answer questions but anticipates needs, plans multi-step processes, and executes tasks autonomously. This isn't sci-fi, it's Agentic AI , and it's transforming campuses worldwide. In this blog post, we'll break down the fundamentals of AI agents, explore their applications in higher education, and provide simple, actionable examples for faculty, administrative staff, and IT professionals to get started. Whether you're a professor ove...