Teaching in Higher Ed A Different Way to Think About AI and Assessment
26 snips
Aug 21, 2025 
Danny Liu, a Professor of educational technologies at the University of Sydney, dives deep into the intertwining of AI and assessment in education. He discusses how educators can guide students to make informed choices in a landscape awash with AI tools. Liu advocates for a shift towards compassionate assessments that foster trust and student agency, rather than strict regulations. He highlights the need for innovative, diverse assessment strategies that embrace creativity and independent thought, transforming the educational experience for both students and teachers.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
Disney Cruise Menu Metaphor
- Danny Liu compares students facing AI choices to his family's Disney cruise with huge menus and attentive servers.
- Educators should act like servers: guide students toward healthier AI choices rather than banning menu items.
Why Traffic Lights Fail
- Traffic-light AI rules give clarity but ignore that students can choose differently outside of supervised settings.
- Accept that take-home work may be open and design assessments expecting varied AI use rather than policing it.
Use Open And Secure Assessment Blend
- Design a mix of open and secure assessments that accept AI use but also verify learning in supervised settings.
- Use open tasks to build skills and secure dialogues or orals to confirm individual understanding.
