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A Library 2.0 / Learning Revolution Online Workshop with Reed Hepler

OVERVIEW: 

This 90-minute online session explores how generative AI tools, particularly Large Language Models (LLMs), can be leveraged to create meaningful nonfiction books for learning and creative reading materials for educational and therapeutic purposes. As AI capabilities expand, the ability to generate book-length content has shifted from months-long endeavors to iterative, collaborative processes that blend human creativity with machine assistance.

The session addresses both the practical mechanics and the ethical considerations of AI-assisted book creation. Participants will learn how to move beyond simple prompt-and-response interactions to develop comprehensive manuscripts that serve genuine learning needs, support educational objectives, or provide therapeutic value. This is not about replacing human authorship—it's about understanding how AI can serve as a collaborative partner in the creative and intellectual work of writing and its ability to provide increasingly authoritative research content.

Book creation with AI presents unique challenges: maintaining coherent narrative arcs, ensuring factual accuracy in nonfiction, creating authentic voice and style, and navigating the complex landscape of authorship, copyright, and citation. The session provides frameworks for addressing these challenges while maintaining the human-centered perspective that separates meaningful content from generic output.

Through examination of successful examples, analysis of common pitfalls, and a hands-on exercise, participants will gain practical experience in conceptualizing, structuring, drafting, and refining book-length content. The session concludes with a 30-minute guided exercise in which participants begin their own book projects, applying the learned principles in real time with instructor support.

The ultimate goal is to empower participants to see books not as insurmountable projects but as achievable goals when approached with the right strategies, tools, and human-AI collaboration techniques. Whether creating training materials, educational resources, therapeutic narratives, or knowledge compilations, participants will leave with actionable methods for transforming ideas into structured, book-length content.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES:

• Understand the capabilities and limitations of LLMs in creating book-length content, including issues of coherence, factual accuracy, and voice consistency.
• Explore methodologies for structuring nonfiction books that serve learning objectives and creative works that support educational or therapeutic goals.
• Identify ethical considerations including authorship attribution, copyright implications, citation requirements, and responsible use of AI-generated content.
• Recognize the iterative process of human-AI collaboration in book creation, including prompting strategies, content refinement, and quality control measures.

LEARNING OUTCOMES:

• Conceptualize book projects that leverage AI assistance while maintaining human authorship, purpose, and quality standards.
• Apply structural frameworks to organize nonfiction content for learning progression and creative content for narrative coherence.
• Develop prompting strategies that generate useful long-form content while maintaining consistency in voice, style, and factual accuracy.
• Implement quality control processes including fact-checking, bias detection, and iterative refinement of AI- generated content.
• Create the foundation of a book project during the hands-on exercise, including outline, sample chapters, and revision plan.

The recording and presentation slides will be available to all who register. 

DATE: Tuesday, January 20th, 2025, 2:00 - 3:30 pm US - Eastern Time

This project was made possible in part by the Institute of Museum and Library Services through the Library Services and Technology Act, administered by the Maryland State Library Agency