Now Accepting Applications:
Apply by April 10, 2026
To prepare students and faculty for the rapid advancement of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies and their role in the workforce, Florida State University is offering stipends for faculty who participate in a year-long pilot focused on integrating AI literacy and applied AI learning into undergraduate and graduate curricula. Faculty participating in the pilot program will develop AI Sparks, learning activities that are ready to use in Canvas, adaptable across academic disciplines, and paired with micro-trainings to improve student comprehension of AI concepts, tools, and applications. The AI sparks developed and tested as part of the pilot will be made available to other instructors wishing to use and/or adapt them for their courses.
What is an AI Spark?
An AI Spark is a clearly defined learning activity that is applicable for online or in-person instruction without the need for substantive course redesign. Instructors can easily replace an existing activity in their course with an AI Spark that will engage students in sustainable AI learning. In addition to the learning activity, a complete AI Spark includes the following:
A brief, student-facing micro-training explaining how and why AI is used
A corresponding instructor-facing micro-training to support facilitation
An accessible design framework that is ready to deploy in Canvas
Assessment suggestions for measuring learning outcomes
What Does an AI Spark look like?
Interested in Participating?
We are currently accepting applications from faculty interested in participating in the AI Sparks pilot program. The program is open to 25 faculty who are able to develop an AI Spark and deploy it in a Summer or Fall 2026 course. Faculty selected to participate will be eligible to receive official recognition and up to $1,500 in stipends.
Deliverables
Faculty who complete the following by October 31, 2026 will be eligible to receive a $1,000 stipend:
Attend at least one ODL-hosted AI Spark design-thinking sprint.
Develop or adapt at least one AI Spark that meets the following criteria:
- Includes a clearly defined learning activity that requires students to use artificial intelligence (AI) and is applicable for online or in-person instruction;
- Includes instructional content for students that explains why AI is used in the activity and how to complete the activity, including how to use the specified AI tool(s);
- Utilizes AI technologies that are licensed and approved through the university;
- Features an accessible design framework that can be deployed in Canvas;
- Includes an assessment rubric suitable for measuring learning outcomes, and
- Includes instructional content for faculty and instructional staff, explaining how to adapt and implement the AI Spark in their courses and disciplines.
Integrate feedback received from the ODL instructional support team during the development of the AI Spark(s).
Implement the developed AI Spark(s) in Canvas for a Summer or Fall 2026 course.
Collect student feedback on the AI Spark(s) by deploying an ODL-provided survey to students enrolled in each Canvas course that includes the AI Spark(s).
Complete a survey from ODL at the conclusion of the pilot, providing feedback on the project.
An additional $500 stipend is available for faculty who present their AI Spark(s) at an AI showcase hosted at Florida State University during the Fall 2026 semester. More information on the showcase will be announced at the start of the Fall term.
Support
To support faculty in the development and implementation of an AI Spark, ODL's instructional support team will provide an AI Sparks design-thinking sprint with sample AI Sparks, applicable and timely guidance throughout the AI Spark development process; assessment suggestions for each AI Spark(s); and a student feedback survey for inclusion in the Canvas course(s) listed above.
How to Apply
To participate, click the Apply button below to submit your application on or before April 10, 2026. If selected to participate, you will receive a notification from our office with next steps. If you have any questions about the AI Sparks pilot, please email digital@fsu.edu.