My Evolving Approach to AI in the Classroom

Abstract

The rapid advancement of AI in our society has prompted many college instructors to consider the role they play in helping students engage with AI tools thoughtfully and critically. In this presentation, I discuss my evolving relationship with AI in large-enrollment science courses, from an initial extra credit assignment designed to introduce students to AI tools, to the development of AI-based resources aimed at supporting students outside of the classroom. As I’ve considered ways to incorporate the use of AI in my classroom, I have also encountered questions that extend beyond pedagogy, including the environmental cost of encouraging hundreds of students to routinely use AI models, as well as equity concerns associated with AI tools that can be used to a greater extent with a paid subscription. These concerns have gradually shifted my approach toward using AI more indirectly, particularly as a way to assist in the development of supplemental materials that don’t require students to interact with AI models directly. In this presentation, I reflect on what has worked and how my use of AI in the classroom continues to evolve.

Presenters