Grant Recipients
Karen Cochrane, Stratford School of Interaction Design and Business
Will Zhao, Stratford School of Interaction Design and Business
Terry O'Neill, Stratford School of Interaction Design and Business
(Project timeline: January 2026 - June 2027)
Description
This project pilots a training system that helps students use generative AI (GenAI) meaningfully in collaborative design contexts. In design and business courses, students often treat GenAI as an answer box, pasting in assignment prompts rather than engaging in reflection or exploration.
This project introduces a hands-on approach where students use GenAI in structured design and business activities. Students will practice prompt engineering, critique outputs, and apply results to their writing and prototyping tasks. Group projects will also incorporate role-based protocols that distribute GenAI use across different responsibilities, mirroring professional contexts. The project will gather evidence on how these protocols support student learning and collaboration. Outcomes will include classroom-tested templates, rubrics, and training protocols that prepare students to work with GenAI in industry while also deepening their learning. Findings will be shared with the Waterloo teaching community and disseminated more broadly through conference and publication venues.
Research Questions
- How do structured protocols shape students’ use of GenAI in design group work?
- How does prompt engineering training influence the quality of group discussion and design outcomes?
- What practices are most effective in helping students integrate GenAI into collaborative design tasks?