Teaching in Higher Ed

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How to Think About Writing in the Age of AI

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Apr 3, 2025

Guest

John Warner

John Warner, an accomplished author of several books on writing, dives into the intricacies of writing in our AI-driven world. He emphasizes the need to distinguish between human writing and AI-generated text, arguing that true expression should be preserved. Warner reflects on personal grief and its transformative power, while critiquing how AI can undermine personalized learning. With a focus on maintaining human connections amidst technological advancements, he champions the unique intelligence of individuals and the essential role of teachers in nurturing it.

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Episode notes

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ANECDOTE

Growing Up in a Bookstore

John Warner grew up in a bookstore started by his mother.
He had easy access to books and developed a love for reading early on.

question_answer

ANECDOTE

Bionic Writers?

Warner uses the Six Million Dollar Man as a metaphor for the idea of humans merging with machines.
He questions whether this "improvement" is truly beneficial for humans.

question_answer

ANECDOTE

Tang and AI

Tang, the drink of astronauts, serves as a metaphor for ChatGPT.
Warner worries that we may mistake this "Tang" for the real "orange juice" of human writing.

Get the Snipd Podcast app to discover more snips from this episode

Reflections on Books, AI, and Grief

01:47 • 26min

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Engaging Practice: Lessons from Sports for Educational Success

27:21 • 4min

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Rethinking Personalized Learning

31:09 • 7min

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Navigating Humanity Amidst Technological Advancement

37:52 • 4min

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Embracing Human Writing in an AI World

41:56 • 6min

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The Writer's Practice, Building Confidence in Your Nonfiction Writing

John Warner

Tough Day for the Army

Life is a Miracle, an Essay Against Modern Superstition

an Essay Against Modern Superstition

Wendell Berry

Wendell Berry's "Life is a Miracle" is a powerful essay that critiques the modern tendency to view the world through a purely scientific lens. Berry argues for a more holistic understanding of life, emphasizing the interconnectedness of all living things and the importance of respecting the natural world. He contrasts the mechanistic view of machines with the organic nature of living creatures, highlighting the unique responsibilities and capabilities of humans. The essay challenges the notion of technological progress as an unmitigated good, urging readers to consider the ethical and ecological implications of our actions. Berry's work is a call for a more mindful and responsible approach to life, emphasizing the inherent value of the natural world and the importance of human connection to it.

Why They Can't Write: Killing the Five-Paragraph Essay and Other Necessities

John Warner

The Book of Delights

Ross Gay

In *The Book of Delights*, Ross Gay offers a genre-defying volume of short, lyrical essays written over one tumultuous year. These 'essayettes,' in the manner of Montaigne, capture Gay’s daily observations and experiences, ranging from the beauty of the natural world to the complexities of race and masculinity. The book emphasizes the importance of delight as a bulwark against casual cruelties and as a way to connect with others, highlighting the shared humanity and mortality that bind us. Gay’s essays are both intimate and political, never shying away from the terrors of living in America while celebrating the small joys that make life worth observing closely.

Why They Can't Write

John Warner

In *Why They Can't Write*, John Warner critiques the current state of writing education, arguing that decades of standardization and assessment have led to ineffective teaching methods. He proposes a shift towards more meaningful and engaging writing experiences that emphasize critical thinking and authentic communication. The book offers both a diagnosis of the problem and practical solutions for educators and policymakers.

More Than Words

How to Think About Writing in the Age of AI

John Warner

In 'More Than Words', John Warner argues that generative AI programs like ChatGPT should not replace human writing. He posits that writing is a process of thinking and feeling, essential to human communication and self-expression. Warner critiques the current state of writing instruction, suggesting that many assignments can be done by machines and do not challenge students to engage in the real work of writing. The book calls for a reevaluation of our relationship with writing in the age of AI, emphasizing the unique value of human writing as a creative and embodied process.

Teaching Machines

The History of Personalized Learning

Audrey Watters

Audrey Watters' "Teaching Machines" provides a critical examination of the history of personalized learning in education. The book explores the recurring themes of technological utopianism and the promises of efficiency in education. Watters delves into the historical context of various technological interventions in education, highlighting the often-unintended consequences and ethical concerns. The book challenges the assumptions underlying the current push for personalized learning through technology, urging a more critical and nuanced approach. It serves as a valuable resource for educators, policymakers, and anyone interested in the intersection of technology and education.

Hidden Potential

The Science of Achieving Greater Things

Adam Grant

In 'Hidden Potential,' Adam Grant dismantles the myth that success is primarily due to innate talent. He argues that potential is not fixed but can be cultivated over time through effort, persistence, and continuous learning. The book emphasizes the development of 'character skills' such as proactivity, determination, and the ability to embrace discomfort and learn from failure. Grant uses compelling stories of late bloomers and underdogs who achieved greatness through sheer determination, highlighting the importance of support systems, motivation, and the willingness to push beyond comfort zones. The book offers a new framework for raising aspirations and exceeding expectations, applicable in various domains from education to the workplace and beyond.

John Warner shares about his latest book, More Than Words: How to Think About Writing in the Age of AI on episode 564 of the Teaching in Higher Ed podcast.

Quotes from the episode

If we treat the output of large language models as writing, as opposed to syntax generation, which is how I characterize it, then we're allowing the meaning of writing and the experience of writing to be degraded for humans.

If we treat the output of large language models as writing, as opposed to syntax generation, which is how I characterize it, then we’re allowing the meaning of writing and the experience of writing to be degraded for humans.
-John Warner

Clearly, this is not feedback that is unique to human beings and unique to how we read.
-John Warner

There is no pivot for humanity. We’re going to be humans whether we like it or not, and we are going to live our life through a series of experiences which convey some manner of meaning to ourselves. We still have to live. We still have to have a day to day experience of the world. We still have to have access to our own minds. We still have to relate to other people. This is the stuff of being human.
-John Warner

Every human is a unique intelligence. Developing a unique intelligence is a work of teaching and learning. And honoring that is the highest calling of a teacher.
-John Warner

Resources

More Than Words: How to Think About Writing in the Age of AI, by John Warner
The Writer’s Practice: Building Confidence in Your Nonfiction Writing, by John Warner
The Six Million Dollar Man
The Bionic Woman
Emily M. Bender
You Are Not a Parrot and a ChatBot is Not a Human. And a linguist Names Emily M. Bender is Very Worried What Will Happen if We Forget This, by Elizabeth Weil
Hidden Potential: The Science of Achieving Greater Things, by Adam Grant
Teaching Machines: The History of Personalized Learning, by Audrey Watters
Frogger
Tang
WALL-E

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