I liked this post by Murph over on Facebook, about how he’s dealing with AI in academia. Going back to analogue and meatspace testing, basically.
So, apparently the war is on with the AI generated material in our classes. Some folks have compared it to the days when we couldn't use calculators in math classes, which is a poor analogy since one has to know the math function well enough to know what to punch into the calculator.
In my on ground classes we have reverted back to all of the work being done in the classroom using pen/pencil and paper I provide. In fact, my students are grinding their way through a final right now.
Thing is, I have a Virtual Class next semester. And sooner or later, someone is going to use the AI for study prep.
So, the question is, how to outflank it?
What? You are saying I should embrace and accept it? No, that is not going to happen. Using technology as a crutch for critical thinking is surrendering a fundamental element of the process of shaping one's mind. To me it is no different than ordering a robot to go lift your weights for you then wonder why you are in such poor physical condition.
Fortunately, I have a whole block of Aquatics Training experience to draw upon. While this does not mean taking them to the pool, there are tools I can use that will outflank much of this.
1. Public Presentations. We simply start doin the Speech Department's job, followed by an oral exam. I wouldn't be the first instructor to do this. We have a primary source reader I am expected to use anyway, so we can draw from that.
2. Hands on Assessment: I used to be a reenactor. While carelessly choosing controversial topics in this field is a great way to get fired, there are practical things we could do in order to assess knowledge.
3. Map Exercise/War Games: I always wanted to do something like this anyway. Bring in a map, spread it out on the table, and have the students walk through a given battle, or movement of exploration. Lewis and Clark could lend itself to this sort of exercise, with things discovered along the path.
4. Construct a Model: This may seem like elementary school but I'd want to see the research that went into the model's construction. A log cabin, for instance, could be made.
Now, some might argue, "But the students have to pay for some of that, or they won't like presentations." Some might also argue, "Games? What are we? A High School?"
I don't really care what we are at this point. Much as I love to lecture, and I assign a lot of value to the skills of critical thinking and listening, I think there may be value in other ways of teaching.
I think that a lot of those ideas are going to get traction. In-person dialog-based assessment. Doesn't scale well, but I think that it's about all we have left.
Mind you, there's another aspect to this that I saw on the ytubes last night: leaning into the chat-AI as a sort of Socratic tutor. Dialog-based exploratory tuition with an entity that knows everything and has limitless patience. You'd have to be careful that you didn't get it going off on one of its inventive modes, of course. But that'll be a solved problem before too long. Could actually be really good for education, at least for those who want to be educated.
Frankly I’m shocked they know what a pencil and paper are for. Kinda like handing em a rotary phone and asking them to make a call.
I think that a lot of those ideas are going to get traction. In-person dialog-based assessment. Doesn't scale well, but I think that it's about all we have left.
Hand written assignments? (https://www.hackster.io/news/homework-machine-hand-writes-ai-generated-assignments-52a2ad5a46c1) Not so much.
Mind you, there's another aspect to this that I saw on the ytubes last night: leaning into the chat-AI as a sort of Socratic tutor. Dialog-based exploratory tuition with an entity that knows everything and has limitless patience. You'd have to be careful that you didn't get it going off on one of its inventive modes, of course. But that'll be a solved problem before too long. Could actually be really good for education, at least for those who want to be educated.
Nice one Murph. I'm sure it won't be long before people without any feeling for my sector will start relying upon AI output, without thought.