The Key with Inside Higher Ed Ep. 171: When Students' Use of AI Goes from Hush-Hush to All In
Aug 28, 2025
In this discussion, Jenny Billings, an English department leader at Rowan-Cabarrus Community College, shares her journey of embracing AI in education, highlighting its positive impact on student retention and confidence. Alongside her is Jenny Maxwell from Grammarly, who explores innovative AI tools that foster student engagement in writing. They delve into the importance of responsible AI use, the shift in student-faculty conversations, and how tools like Grammarly can enhance learning without compromising academic integrity.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Create Clear Institutional AI Policies
- Form an institutional AI committee that includes faculty, IT, and distance-education staff to create balanced policies.
- Define approved tools and clear uses to guide faculty discretion and student practice.
Transparency Beats Bans
- Banning AI pushed student usage underground and turned enforcement into a ‘catching’ game.
- Openly teaching approved uses creates transparent, teachable conversations about ethical use.
Design AI-Integrated Assignments
- Design assignments that intentionally incorporate AI for outlining, revision, or resume tailoring.
- Use in-class labs to teach why and how AI suggestions improve writing, not just to produce output.