Abstract:

Higher education has been preoccupied with concerns about student use of artificial intelligence (AI) to do research, write assignments and discussions, and even their emails to instructors. While concern about ‘grading AI’ product in lieu of student work is legitimate, detection and punishment for plagiarism is a band aid not an educational solution. While many institutions have recognized the usage of AI in their curriculum and policies, the primary focus to date has been to control and monitor student use of AI, the real problem of educating students about the ethical and effectiveness of AI is still in its infancy. The challenge is to offer a variety of learning opportunities in which AI can be used effectively, but not at the expense of critical thinking and creative thought. Rather than using AI for rote and mundane research with little student interaction with the true nature of research, students must be encouraged and taught to seek answers and develop solutions to problems with their own minds. Many educators may be too comfortable with the current framework of their online course format and Learning Management System (LMS), which in turn may lack the tools to fully address the dynamics of AI technology in the learning experience. This exploratory paper offers ways in which classroom assessments and activities can be used to overcome AI’s wordsmithery. This paper is a work in progress, looking at various formats and approaches educators might use to help learners comfortably apply the technology in the creation of ideas, rather than be a substitute for them. For example, an individual thematic approach to student learning and achievement of learning outcomes can be measured with case simulations, debate and peer reviews, and a data storytelling project. A group approach can be developed with workshop planning via discussion or project circles, creating a presentation to a congressional committee, or a negotiation simulation project. The common theme of this approach is interactive learning that requires performance and active participation, that involves a higher level of thinking and creativity for both educational design and student participation. AI is, in fact, requiring education to evolve to a higher plane to meet the opportunity it offers.

Keywords:

Artificial intelligence, assessment design, wordsmithery, storytelling.