S3E6: Student & Faculty Perspectives on AI

The onset of artificial Intelligence tools—like ChatGPT—continues to engender debate in higher education. It’s safe to say many faculty and students alike are concerned with the uncertain and far-reaching implications of using AI, especially as it relates to academic integrity. But as Andrea L. Guzman (Inside Higher Ed 2023) says, “knee jerk reactions” to new innovations may misconstrue the nature of these tools, and indeed how they’re being used in practice.

A BestColleges survey of over 1000 students provided insights on how students think about AI. Over half of college students (51%) believe that using artificial intelligence (AI) tools like ChatGPT to complete assignments and exams qualifies as cheating, and 41% believe doing this is morally wrong. On the other hand, only 27% of students believed that tools like ChatGPT should be prohibited in educational settings. So how do we balance allowing—or even encouraging, in some cases—students to use AI while ensuring their learning?

In this episode of What We’re Learning About Learning, we spoke with five students who offered their perspectives on AI and asked two faculty to respond to what the students had to say. Listen to the episode to learn more about:

The many ways students use AI tools from ChatGPT to Snapchat’s “MyAI” to help them in courses.
Conversations students want and need from faculty about AI.
The possibilities for integrating AI tools in the classroom.
The importance of fostering student and faculty dialogue around AI and its implications.

Explore more resources related to AI in higher education classrooms in the “Additional Resources” section. CNDLS has curated several resources on our Artificial Intelligence Tools page, including guidance on how to craft your course policies so you and your students are on the same page this semester.

Transcript

Bios

Featured in this episode:

Devin Alford, MSB ‘24, Marketing
Emilio Cazares Borbon, COL ‘26, Computer Science and Neurobiology
Tayah Rubio, MSB ‘24, Finance
AiAi Price-Smith, COL ‘25, Biology of Global Health
Salvo Lavis, GSAS ‘23, Learning, Design & Technology program
Mark Fisher, Assistant Professor in the Government Department
J Palmeri, Professor of English and Director of the Writing Program

Resources

Artificial Intelligence Tools - CNDLS website
Georgetown’s Honor Code Policy
Center for New Designs in Learning and Scholarship (CNDLS)
The Prospect blog

Additional research

AI in Education Canvas Course by the University of Sydney. This site is a resource for students, built by students, to provide ways you can use generative artificial intelligence productively and responsibly as part of your learning journey in university.
Ferlazzo, L. (June 2023). Here’s What Students Think About Using AI in the Classroom. EdWeekly.
Guzman, A. (April 2023). Don’t assume your students are Eager AI adopters. Inside Higher Ed.
The Learning Network. (February 2023). What Students Are Saying About ChatGPT. The New York Times.
Terry, O. (May 2023). I’m a Student. You Have No Idea How Much We’re Using ChatGPT. The Chronicle of Higher Education.
Welding, L. (March 2023). Half of College Students Say Using AI on Schoolwork Is Cheating or Plagiarism._ Best Colleges_.
N.A. (2023). ONE-THIRD OF COLLEGE STUDENTS USED CHATGPT FOR SCHOOLWORK DURING THE 2022-23 ACADEMIC YEAR. Intelligent.