Pre-College Instructor, Technologies of Influence: Harnessing the Power of A.I. for Persuasion

Columbia University's Pre-College Programs offer high-achieving high school students the opportunity to engage in exploratory coursework at the college level, studying alongside peers from around the world. This highly selective program is open to students entering grades 9 and through the summer following  their senior year.

Columbia University's Pre-College Programs for high school students is seeking qualified candidates to develop and teach on-campus courses during Summer '26. 

Reporting to the Senior Director of Instruction and Curriculum for Pre-College Programs, Pre-College instructors develop and deliver immersive non-credit courses for high-achieving high school students. They guide and supervise students when classes are in session, and write a holistic evaluation of each course participant after classes conclude.

For more information on the program–including course sessions and times–please see here.

Course Description

The ability to skillfully influence and persuade others is the key to success in business, civic engagement, and politics. The primary goal of the course is to help prepare students to organize and present information in compelling and concise ways. While the art and science of persuasion has a long history, recent breakthroughs in the field of Generative A.I. are poised to completely upend traditional approaches to the creation and targeting of persuasive messages. The effective use of A.I. as a technology of influence, however, requires an understanding of both the social psychological foundations of persuasion, and a basic knowledge of how A.I. systems work.

Toward that end, students who successfully complete this course will gain a solid grounding in how Generative A.I. can be deployed to effectively influence people's attitudes, opinions, and behaviors in ways designed to optimize specified outcomes. Students will have the opportunity to apply this knowledge through "hands-on" participation in a Team Project, where working in small groups students will build their own persuasive messaging campaigns, utilizing "off the shelf" Generative A.I. tools—e.g., ChatGPT, Dall-E, Bard. Together, through the combination of readings, classroom instruction, group work, and in-class learning activities, the overall objective of the course is to improve student's ability to apply the principles of A.I.-based persuasion to achieve desired business outcomes, galvanize change, and forge greater civic and political engagement.

Course Schedule

Session C: August 3rd to August 7th - 11:10am - 1:00pm & 3:10 - 5:00pm

Please note: Course(s) and course availability are subject to change. All times shown are Eastern Time (ET). Dates and class times are tentative and subject to change.

Responsibilities:

• Develop course content, syllabus, lesson plans, and assigned work, in accordance with Pre-College templates and regulations

• Lead and attend all class sessions, including escorting students to and from campus for field trips 

• Establish and maintain a dynamic in-class environment tailored for our high school population

• Evaluate student work and write a holistic evaluation of each participant after the course ends

• Monitor and address student concerns and inquiries (typical class size is 20-24 students)

• Attend and complete all required online trainings

• Graduate degree or equivalent professional or academic background
• Expertise in the pertinent subject matter
• Aptitude for teaching

Hiring Salary Ranges: 

• Session C (Campus, 1 Week): $3,000 - $3,500

Please confirm that you're able to teach this session in the Message to Hiring Manager field.  

• Please submit a resume inclusive of teaching experience as well as formal teaching evaluations (if available)

• Applicants must have U.S. work authorization and will need to be in the U.S. while teaching

• Columbia Affiliates: There may be restrictions when hiring individuals who hold a concurrent appointment at Columbia University during the Summer term. Generally, PhD students and Officers of Research are not eligible. Please check with us during the hiring process regarding your eligibility. Please note, Pre-College courses do not count towards the maximum course loads for adjuncts.

• Once hired, applicants are required to submit to a third party background check and complete Protection of Minors training in addition to other training(s) mandated by the University and Pre-College Program

All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.

Columbia University is an Equal Opportunity Employer / Disability / Veteran