Artificial Intelligence

 Helping Faculty and Students Navigate the Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) 

With the growth of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and it’s use in higher education, we, as educators, need to consider ways to educate students about the proper use of AI. Here are some ideas to consider. 

 

Create an AI Project  

Create a project that invites students to use AI. Have them state the benefits and drawbacks of using AI to complete the project. Or have students create two short papers, one using AI and one they have written. Have the students trade papers with another student to see if the student can identify the AI-generated text. Then discuss the benefits and drawbacks. 

 

Design Diverse Assignments  

Create assignments that go beyond memorization and encourage critical thinking. Assign projects, case studies, and personal essays. Include open-ended questions that relate to current events or that require an application of knowledge or an opinion, making it more difficult for students to rely solely on AI-generated content. 

 

Promote Ethical Use of Technology  

Include discussions on the ethical use of technology. Help students understand the implications of relying solely on AI and emphasize the long-term value of acquiring knowledge. Teach students how to use AI in a way that is beneficial, where it increases their knowledge and promotes creative thinking. 

 

Talk about Academic Integrity 

Communicate expectations regarding originality, proper citation, and the use of AI. Emphasize the importance of learning and critical thinking over the pursuit of grades. Offer clear and specific guidelines on the use of technology or create a statement that can be added to the course syllabus. This clarity will help students understand the boundaries and consequences of using AI. 

Use Varied Assessment Formats  

Employ a mix of assessment formats, including in-person exams, oral presentations, and group projects. Using a variety of assessment methods makes it challenging for students to find a one-size-fits-all AI solution. 

 

Keep it Real 

Talk to students about the use of AI in the workplace, the benefits, and the challenges. Discuss where AI is useful and how it can be used. AI isn’t a tool to be ignored, it’s a tool that’s here to stay. So, we need to do what we can to make sure students understand the benefits and drawbacks of using AI in education and in life. 

 

Want to know more? There are so many articles out there about the use of AI. Type a request in a search engine or use ChatGPT. 😉 Or read this article titled, Embracing the Inevitable Gen Z’s vision of AI and GPT in higher education