A.I. & World-Building

a Discovery Core Experience

BCORE 120 (Arts & Humanities)

About This Course

In this course, students will undertake a quarter-long world-building process to create a real-world fantasy group project set in the era of AI (1950s – present) using a variety of AI tools such as Microsoft Copilot (UW official chatbot), Canva (Free), and Microsoft Designer (Free), as well as fantasy map generators such as Azgaar (Free) and Medieval Fantasy City (Free).

Say More About the “World-building Process”

The entire world-building process includes: concept brainstorming, storyboarding, determining the human & other-than-human populations, establishing the historical and cultural backgrounds, and determining the power source of the world. Near the end of the world-building process, students will compile their work at each of the stages and present their own unique world-building projects to class.

How Will We Learn About A.I.?

Multimodal course readings/materials will be used to provide fundamental knowledge about AI, world-building, and fantasy mapping include excerpts from The Age of AI, Co-Intelligence: Living and Working with AI, The Complete Art of World Building, and Fantasy Mapping: Drawing Worlds. Library resources will also be built in the course design to help you learn how to gain support from the librarians and access resources related to AI & information literacy at the library.

Why Should I Take This Course?

In addition to developing AI and information literacy, you will engage in reflective circles and peer review activities at every stage of the project as you collaborate with you group members to construct or reenact an innovative, fantastic world in the age of AI with their respective diverse focuses of stories, characters, and environments inclusive of cross-disciplinary knowledge and skills — building skills essential to the collaborative nature of college learning.

Professor Hsinmei (May) Lin (she/her)

School of Interdisciplinary Arts & Sciences

About Professor Lin

  • Ph.D. University of Washington, Seattle
  • M.A. National Chengchi University, Taipei, Taiwan
  • B.A. Fu Jen Catholic University, Taipei, Taiwan

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