On March 28, the CTL hosted an engaging panel focusing on student’s firsthand experiences with AI in the classroom, exploring its benefits, challenges, and impact on learning. Panelists were prompted to discuss AI's role in assessments, grading, and final projects while addressing concerns about academic integrity.
Students discussed a variety of ways they use AI tools in their coursework, from leveraging AI for concept clarification and fact-checking to refining and restructuring their ideas. There was a focus on the balance between using AI as a helpful tool and maintaining personal growth and academic integrity. Students also reflected on the importance of self-reliance, especially after being encouraged by instructors to rely more on their own skills.
Thoughtful questions from instructors in the chat played a key role in shaping the discussion, fostering an engaging and reflective conversation about the role of AI in education. Questions such as, "what suggestions do you have for faculty to develop real-world assessment to provide the rigor needed to develop their expertise in using AI responsibly?" demonstrate that this topic will need sustained attention as we adapt our teaching and learning practices. This dialogue underscored the potential for AI to enhance learning when used thoughtfully and responsibly.
Key takeaways from the panelists include:
“I think of (AI) as a world-class tutor... This would have cost thousands of dollars before, and now it’s free... It makes my life so much easier, and it gives me the benefit of knowing what’s going on....(It's) an amazing tool aiding in my learning.” - Benedict Marco Laju (College of Natural Sciences)
“I think more students will use AI out of necessity. (They’ll think) “I don’t think I’m going to be able to get a good grade on this assignment without ChatGPT.” - Katy Ritchter (Mccombs School of Business)
“I've seen a lot of professors share ways they’ve used AI in their own professional work and in lectures... They show how they use AI to amplify their own practice or to generate ideas to execute on... in some cases they encourage us to do the same.” - Kahlil Davis (College of Fine Arts)
"One of my professors said: 'Here are five (handwritten) essay prompts, I will pick one of them for the exam, and we will write a practice prompt today.' That preparation really helped combat a little anxiety in the room... We care about learning, but we need good grades (to get into graduate school).” - Sam Tonini (College of Liberal Arts)
Ultimately, this dynamic panel reinforced the impact of understanding AI’s role in education and how it can be better adapted to the classroom. Thank you to our wonderful facilitator and panel designer, Kenadi Maupin (LBJ School of Public Affairs), and our four student panelists, Kahlil Davis, Benedict Marco Laju, Katy Ritchter, and Samantha Tonini (College of Liberal Arts) for fostering an open space for discussing the role of AI in the classroom. We hope this event left participants with a new perspective on this ever changing and always evolving tool. The CTL is excited to continue to be a hub for important discussions like these that shape campus conversations.