Derek Bruff, expert in assignment makeovers in the AI age, discusses the challenges of incorporating AI tools in higher education, adapting assignments to leverage AI for student learning, defining and dealing with cheating in academia, the impact of AI on professional work, and the importance of teachers in sparking student interest.
The podcast explores the challenges and opportunities of incorporating AI tools into assignments, emphasizing the need for humility and curiosity in navigating AI tools.
The episode underscores the importance of considering context in designing assignments and teaching strategies, encouraging flexibility and creativity in rethinking approaches.
Deep dives
Rethinking Assignments in the Age of Artificial Intelligence
In this episode, Derek Breff explores the ways in which faculty are rethinking assignments in the age of artificial intelligence (AI). He highlights the need for humility and curiosity in navigating AI tools. Breff shares his experiments with AI tools, such as chat GPT, illicit, and Bing chat, to see how they can assist students in completing assignments. He emphasizes the importance of authentic connections between assignments and student interests to prevent shortcuts and promote engagement. Breff also emphasizes the need for open communication with students about AI tools and encourages them to share their experiences. Overall, this episode delves into the challenges and opportunities of incorporating AI tools into assignments, providing insights for educators to adapt their teaching approaches.
Engaging Students through Humility and Curiosity
This episode highlights the importance of fostering humility and curiosity in students. Drawing on research and examples from K-12 education, the episode emphasizes the value of context and authentic connections in promoting student engagement. It explores techniques such as practice listening with fascination, emphasizing the value of questions, drawing on awe to encourage exploration, and normalizing uncertainty. The aim is to inspire students to be passionate about learning and open to different perspectives. The episode emphasizes the need for educators to model curiosity and create an environment that encourages students to explore and ask questions, fostering a love of learning.
The Role of Context in Deepening Learning Experiences
This episode discusses the importance of considering context in designing assignments and teaching strategies. It acknowledges the challenges faced by faculty in adapting to and navigating changing educational landscapes, such as the shift to remote teaching and emerging technologies. The episode highlights the need for educators to reflect on the purpose and goals of assignments, encouraging flexibility and creativity in rethinking approaches. Examples from various disciplines illustrate the benefits of aligning assignments with learning objectives and exploring diverse assessment methods. The episode also emphasizes the significance of open communication with students, promoting transparency and curiosity in the learning process.
Exploring AI's Impact on Teaching and Learning
This episode delves into the potential disruptive effects of artificial intelligence (AI) on teaching and learning. It features an experiment by the Planet Money podcast, where they explore whether AI tools can replicate their own podcast episodes. The discussion highlights the capabilities and limitations of AI tools in generating content and the role of human expertise in adding value to educational experiences. The episode emphasizes the need for educators to understand AI tools, their strengths, and weaknesses, while guiding students in using them ethically and effectively. It encourages a balanced approach that combines AI tools with authentic and engaging learning experiences.
Derek Bruff shares about assignment makeovers in the AI age on episode 481 of the Teaching in Higher Ed podcast
Quotes from the episode
The technologies at play in higher education changed dramatically in a very short amount of time, and that required us to kind of rethink what we were doing as teachers.
-Derek Bruff
For my course, I felt like it is fine to teach them to write using the AI tools as long as I can help them learn to use the tools well.
-Derek Bruff