By Amy Darty, M.A.
GEP Faculty Fellow
College of Undergraduate Studies
Suppose the goal of Artificial Intelligence (AI) is assistance, responding to prompts, generating simulated conversation, assessing data, collating and curating artistic endeavors, and writing. In that case, the next step in the use of AI for general education is a natural progression.
AI has been slowly integrating into daily life for more than a decade. The technology, such as GPS and Chatbots, makes our lives easier. I bet most of you said, “Hey Alexa or Hey Siri,” in the last week. The surge in easy access and free generative AI online tools brings education and public consumption into direct contact.
So, where does GEP teaching and learning fit into the AI narrative? A few thoughts:
AI Literacy: Knowing when and how to use AI tools within an ethical framework by providing guidelines for use just as with any other technology; asking questions about the application of AI within professional practice (ours and theirs) in a continuously adapting digital and diagnostic realm
AI in Discourse: Exploring topics with AI feedback to enhance learning and contemplate authenticity; crafting teaching moments and fostering student interaction. (The What If scenario of investigation, or how can X topic I am learning about help me in my career as X.)
Collaborative AI: Promoting a critical thinking process using AI information results; training students to see AI-driven mechanisms or tools as a collaborator/peer rather than the authority.
AI Integrative Learning: Crafting your AI toolkit for teaching and learning and identifying best practices for integrating technology into your discipline like any other innovation of the last 30 years.
- Student-led activities with AI tools to prompt discussion. “What connections might Aristotle have made about government in his time and later in world history?”
- Analysis of complex data sets. Akin to algorithms but done by AI for the less programming savvy among us and aligning metrics across content.
- Crafting interactive elements for course delivery and grading. AI-generated avatars, speech-to-text audio-feedback, visual design, and anachronistic humor “create an image of George Washington on a motorcycle with Alexander Hamilton hugging the sidecar.”
- Interdisciplinary engagement. Use AI tools to help make connections across disciplines. For instance, teaching chemistry with art history, applying speaking skills to physics, and creating mathematics puzzles with various learning outcomes.
- We’re in a bold new world. Let’s learn together. Add your thoughts in the AI and the “Integrative GEP: A Conversation” module in the GEP Faculty Learning Community webcourse.
Questions? Please email me.