Generative artificial intelligence (GAI) is capable of generating text, images, or other media. GAI learns the patterns and structure of input training data and then generates new data that has similar characteristics (Wikipedia). Naturally, there are many concerns about GAI, with intellectual property rights and academic dishonesty among them. However, GAI can be a useful tool and can be adapted to classroom teaching and learning once its capabilities, limitations, and programming are understood.
Hoffman (2023) urged educators to reconsider how we view technology that affects classroom learning, stating "If we decide that it's important to use [generative artificial intelligence], then by definition it becomes part of the curriculum, not cheating." Already in wide use in areas such as visual arts, programming, library and information technology, help desks, and other business sectors, GAI has become a ubiquitous element of the workforce and daily living, and thus cannot be ignored. The Bureau of Labor Statistics publishes data on the ever-growing impact of GAI in the U.S. workforce.
As the effects of AI began showing up regularly in the news cycle, Rutter and Mintz (2023) challenged us to re-evaluate how we think of intelligent technology:
...if a program can do a job as well as a person, then humans shouldn’t duplicate those abilities; they must surpass them. The next task for higher education, then, is to prepare graduates to make the most effective use of the new tools and to rise above and go beyond their limitations. That means pedagogies that emphasize active and experiential learning, that show students how to take advantage of these new technologies and that produce graduates who can do those things that the tools can’t.
This page offers suggestions for incorporating GAI into classroom teaching, and designing assignments that work effectively with GAI while generally discouraging cheating.
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GAI has the potential to improve certain aspects of higher education. For example, Rutter and Mintz (2023) believe that GAI may be able to help students with traditionally under-funded areas of university life such as career counseling. For administrative work, GAI can act as an assistant, taking notes and providing meeting summaries.
Generative artificial intelligence technology is currently not in FERPA compliance. Using GAI to record students is not recommended. See the GAI FAQ page for more information.
For course development and classroom work, GAI can be used to help design lessons and assignments and help students produce better work. Some ways that GAI can be used effectively in courses include:
Naturally, any material generated by any form of artificial intelligence should be proofread, personalized, improved, and appropriately cited.
What GAI CANNOT Do
Despite its amazing capabilities, there are things that GAI cannot do. Understanding its limitations may help you work confidently with GAI in the classroom. Here are examples of what GAI cannot do: