lance jones staff
As artificial intelligence becomes more and more a part of daily life, universities are grappling with how to integrate machine learning without losing academic integrity.
“AI, like the Internet, social media, and search engines are all great inventions that benefit societies that can also cause great harm,” says Megan Lowe, library director at Northwestern State University. “If a student can’t analyze a text without a chatbot, what does that say about their education?”
“If a student can’t analyze a text without a chatbot, what does that say about their education?”
Student use of AI to help learn and do school work has outpaced faculty use. According to a June 2024 Pearson report, 51 percent of spring 2024 semester college students said AI helped them get better grades and 56 percent said AI helped them be more efficient. Meanwhile, a June 2024 survey of faculty showed that while 66 percent are familiar with AI, only about 14 percent are confident in their ability to use AI in the classroom, according to Ithaka S+R, a higher education consulting firm. In addition, 42 percent of faculty surveyed say they don’t allow students to use AI at all in their courses.
As artificial intelligence tools become more advanced and easier to access, students say they are finding new ways to use them for their schoolwork.
“When I first heard about AI chatbots, I thought they were overhyped, but now, I can’t imagine school without using these tools for brainstorming or research,” says David Johnson, a former University of New Orleans computer science major.
On the other hand, some professors are concerned that the reliance on AI could diminish students’ critical thinking skills. To tackle the challenges posed by AI, many institutions are focusing on developing their faculty’s understanding of these technologies.
“Universities should be holding workshops to educate professors and university officials on the basics of AI by viewing technology as a partner in education rather than something to fear,” says Meredith King, assistant director of teaching innovation at the University of New Orleans. “We can improve the overall learning experience.”
This approach is used to change the conversation from simply banning AI to exploring its potential, allowing educators to establish clear guidelines while promoting creative ways to use AI, King says.
At the same time, many business departments at universities are working to find a middle ground — leveraging AI’s capabilities, while upholding academic integrity.
“We’re not advocating for students to let AI take the place of their own ideas, instead we want them to use it to enhance their creative thinking,” says Lowe at Northwestern State University. “As future professionals they will likely collaborate with AI and it’s important that we teach them how to do so in a responsible manner.”
