Sites
generative AI
Collection

What is Generative AI?

To leverage the power of generative artificial intelligence (AI) for teaching and learning—and minimize negative impacts—it is important to understand how generative AI tools work. Here, we recommend some of the more accessible resources to help get you up to speed.

Learning Technologies
Updated June 2026
Michael Palmer headshot
Michael Palmer
Barbara Fried Director & Professor
Office of the Executive Vice President and Provost
View Bio

The Basics of Generative AI

TechTarget

An engaging animated tutorial on the nuts and bolts of generative AI, including a discussion of important terms, how generative AI and large-language models work, prompt engineering, and a possible future of AI.

Headshot of Michael Palmer
Michael Palmer

This animation is really well done and covers a lot ground. The level is pitched for both those new to generative AI and large language models and for those who already have some basic understanding. As a bonus, the video includes nice sections on prompt engineering and the future of AI: autonomous agents.

View excerpt
Open resource
Website
Was this resource helpful?

How Large Language Models (LLMs) Work

Financial Times

A visual explanation for how generative AI uses Large Language Models (LLM) to create plausible and sophisticated text, images, and computer code at a level that mimics human ability.

Headshot of Michael Palmer
Michael Palmer

This visual essay--one of the clearest explanations of how large language models work--beautifully highlights the technical elegance, complexity, and problems associated with generative AI.

View excerpt
Open resource

As the technology is rapidly woven into our lives, understanding how LLMs generate text means understanding why these models are such versatile cognitive engines — and what else they can help create.

Website
Was this resource helpful?

How AI is Impacting Higher Education

Elon University Imagining the Digital Future Center

This 2025 survey suggests that 95% of college faculty fear student overreliance on AI and diminished critical thinking among learners who use generative AI tools.

Headshot of Michael Palmer
Michael Palmer

Four years from the launch of ChatGPT, we're starting to get a good sense of some of the impact generative AI is having on teaching and learning. In a recent study, faculty (n=1,057) at a range of institutions believe AI is diminishing critical thinking skills and decreasing attention spans. They believe student research has gotten worse, cheating has increased, and that AI is negatively impacting the value of an academic degree. At the same time, faculty recognize the potential benefits of the technology and are often eager to innovate. This sobering account of the present and future of higher education in the age of AI is worth consideration.

View excerpt
Open resource

“When more than nine in ten faculty warn that generative AI may weaken critical thinking and increase student overreliance, it is clear that higher education is at an inflection point. These findings do not call for abandoning AI, but for intentional leadership – rethinking teaching models, assessment practices, and academic integrity so that human judgment, inquiry, and learning remain central. The challenge before higher education is to act with urgency and purpose so that AI strengthens, rather than undermines, the value of a college degree.” -- Eddie Watson, co-author of the report and Vice President for Digital Innovation at AAC&U

Article
Was this resource helpful?

What AI Can Do Today?

Awesome AI Tools

This up-to-date repository allows you to quickly find the perfect AI for the task at hand.

Headshot of Michael Palmer
Michael Palmer

It's convenient to use ChatGPT, CoPilot, or Claude for all your AI needs, but in the AI world one size definitely does not fit all. With thousands of specialized AIs on the market, it's hard to find the best one for the job. I like "What AI Can Do Today?" because it uses AI to help you quickly search and filter over 18,000 tools and nearly 120,000 unique tasks.

Website
Was this resource helpful?

Want to recommend a resource to add to this collection? Send us an email.

Related Galleries