Episode 44: What AI can do for us academics (and what it can’t do for us without sucking the joy from life)
Feb 24, 2025
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In this episode, John Warner, a skilled writer and thought leader in the field of education, shares his insights on the role of AI in academic writing. He discusses how AI can aid in tasks like organizing thoughts and creating drafts, but warns against losing the joy of writing. John emphasizes the importance of maintaining personal engagement and authenticity in writing. He also explores developing a robust writing practice and the balance between leveraging AI tools and nurturing critical thinking in students.
AI can support academics in tasks like generating lists and drafts, but lacks the personal depth of human writing.
Writing is essential for cognitive and emotional growth, enabling students to articulate their ideas and develop critical thinking skills.
Transparency in writing assignments encourages self-reflection, fostering a meaningful connection to the craft beyond reliance on AI tools.
Deep dives
Understanding Generative AI and ChatGPT
ChatGPT is a manifestation of large language models under the broader term generative AI. It functions as an automatic syntax generator that responds to prompts by fetching relevant information using a highly sophisticated algorithmic process. This technology, likened to an eager puppy fetching results, can produce text quickly and fluently, based on the patterns learned from its training data. The distinction between how AI generates text and how humans write reveals that AI operates on averaging collective data, lacking the personal reflective thought process inherent in human writing.
The Value of Writing as a Thinking Tool
Writing is posited as a key method for thinking, allowing individuals to explore and crystallize their ideas in a way that other forms of expression, such as speaking or debating, may not achieve as effectively. Many students have been deprived of the opportunity to experience the cognitive and emotional benefits of writing due to traditional educational practices that prioritize rote skills over meaningful engagement. By fostering a genuine connection to writing, students can learn to express their unique intelligences and develop their critical thinking capabilities. Without embracing writing’s potential for exploration and self-discovery, there’s a risk of stunting students’ growth and agency.
AI as a Helpful Ally, With Cautions
While the initial excitement around AI may lead to viewing it as a useful tool, reflecting on its limitations within writing tasks reveals a more nuanced perspective. AI can assist with producing straightforward content or automating tasks that don't require deep thought while retaining the voice and originality of the individual writer. Caution is advised, as academic students may not possess the expertise to effectively engage with AI outputs. This calls for an understanding of where AI can complement one's writing practice and where it should be avoided to ensure genuine learning and growth.
Promoting Transparency and Engagement in Writing
Transparency in writing assignments, especially when it comes to the use of AI tools, is vital to enriching the learning experience for students. Encouraging students to show their writing process fosters a deeper understanding and self-reflection on their capabilities. The pedagogical approach should center around creating engaging writing experiences that build intrinsic interest rather than reliance on external tools as shortcuts. Through meaningful interactions with writing, students can develop a sense of agency and appreciation for the craft.
The Intersection of Writing Practice and Personal Growth
Writing spans multiple forms and should be viewed as a cohesive practice, informing both professional and personal growth. Writers can cultivate their skills through diverse formats, recognizing that the processes involved in writing—regardless of genre—share common elements. Engaging with one's writing practice cultivates important attitudes and skills, enhancing critical engagement with the material. By embracing a balanced approach that integrates multiple writing tasks, individuals can accurately reflect on their progress and find genuine fulfillment in their expression.
We’re speaking with writing teacher, John Warner, author most recently of More Than Words: How to Think about Writing in the Age of AI, about where AI can be an ally (it’s great a alphabetizing, as a tool for jogging our memory, generating lists and first drafts of abstracts and summaries), and where to steer clear of it. We talk about teaching and learning in the age of AI, and how to remind students of the pleasures of writing and reaching those “can’t be better” writing moments. John talks about developing a writers practice (the subject of one of his books), how to create compelling “learning outcomes/objectives” for our courses, and the tricks and pleasure of moving between different kinds of writing, effectively.
