Educators Begin to Brainstorm AI Teaching Techniques
As we’ve discussed before, educators can be slow to adapt to new technology like AI. However, after an initial period of resistance, they begin to adjust. We’re starting to see this now, with many educator-focused publications hypothesizing about how to integrate different AI teaching techniques into their classroom.
Education Journals are Suggesting Techniques Based on AI Course Content
The latest suggestion in Faculty Focus is for educators to lean on AI to generate course content for students to analyze. Not only does Faculty Focus suggest having AI develop case studies for students to investigate, but they also recommend using AI to create a grading rubric for the case study it provided to the professor and show students how to analyze AI content.
We applaud Faculty Focus for its forward-thinking ideas. For instance, the journal included specific ideas on how AI can help professors generate fresh content. It is likely that integrating AI and refreshing course content regularly decreases cheating in the long term. However, it contributes to engaging students on relevant assignments.
Professors Can Generate AI Content Teaching Critical Thinking and AI Analysis
Faculty Focus suggests a 2 step process for curriculum content creation with AI. In the example of generating case studies. First, the educator would use AI to create a balance sheet that the students could use to learn about balance sheets without using AI. The second part would be for the educator to generate a case study with an assignment portion for the students to complete with AI. The theory is to help “students learn how to use AI appropriately.” As employers begin to ask for students to bring AI skills to the table for their jobs, this 2 step teaching method would help students because “research indicates they have a diminished sense of preparedness when they have insufficient exposure to AI application.” (Hsiao and Han 2023)
Students feel Unprepared for an AI Workplace
The story was about students being eager to cheat and using AI as a substitute for hard work. However, Hsiao and Han, writing about accounting students, show that students feel incredibly unprepared to use AI. Hsiao and Han suggest that professors should integrate more AI tools and technologies into their classrooms.
AI Teaching Content and Grading Rubrics Might Be More Objective
A constant conflict between professors and students is whether the professor graded the student fairly. By utilizing an AI-generated grading rubric for the assignment, professors can put these arguments to rest. For instance, students evaluate where to spend time on their school assignments.
Educators Crafting Curriculum to Integrate AI is the Best Solution
As the stated purpose of higher education is still preparation for work, educators should begin developing AI assignments for their curricula, preparing both themselves and students for the AI needs of their workplaces. As they brainstorm new opportunities to engage students and teach them how to use AI, they should focus on AI teaching techniques focused on critically analyzing AI content and how students can use AI in specific employment-relevant situations.