College education has been totally slapped with GenAI, from its rocky start seen by the education body as a form of “cheating”. While examples of people quite literally copy and pasting documents to show as their own, I want to shine a light on how higher education needs to adapt in a higher degree of inclusion with GenAI to better the existing college body. Do I personally think we can reform the education system, well maybe not in a snap but maybe over time as we grow with GenAI.

As a student that had grown through a pre-GenAI and now preset-GenAI high education environment, I hope that students like me can help direct how GenAI lives beyond this generation of students I belong with. As creating a smarter, more effective way of education could mean a greater next generation of students. Building off my previous blog post, I will explore how this could be approached and my experiences with SDSU and the possible future of integrating GenAI.

Students use GenAI, that it be for finding quick answers, data, and knowledge development of subjects. As I imagine many of these students who have graduated may even continue to use GenAI as an effective tool to complete tasks. Teaching methodologies in universities have been around since the 10^th century, this should mean it’s working, right? Many students I have asked about this idea have had many thoughts about this statement.  Some of the students I asked were former military, while others had some work experience or none at all.

Answers I got from students who had prior work experience exampled that their job(s) had given what they needed to be successful, not what they are currently learning. While those who had no work experience held close to what they were learning, hoping that the education they are learning now will benefit them blindly once they have their degree in hand. Two very polarizing sides of this spectrum.

I currently work in SDSU’s instructional technology services (ITS). I have seen up and close how professors work with current classroom technology and how they use it. This job has given me the privilege to see the classroom from the professor’s perspective, which has also shown me a better understanding of how or why professors do the things they do. I can also take off my student hat with the professors and interact with them as a supporting role.

The concerns with teaching with present day GenAI has evolved beyond the scope of wondering if a student had submitted a generated essay vs their own work. Now professors that I had this conversation with think students are either smart and effectively using GenAI, or lazy and non-committing to their work. Some professors are now encouraging the use of GenAI, which I believe is the appropriate approach. As I have personally experienced professors who have given us ideas how to use GenAI and better and effectively use it as a learning tool. 

In a article by Reuters OpenAI (creators of ChatGPT) are expanding its educational presence by integrating its use in the CSU education space. That this is done through tutoring and admin support to a staggering 23 CSU campus and totaling 500,000 students. Other than the obvious tutoring support, OpenAI has its GenAI completing grading, content creation, and other needs a professor would need to do themselves. Allowing them to have more time to connect with students and having more time to be a effective professor.

Another article by Cornell University examples how students use GenAI to support writing, exam prep, and overall academic support. This article also examines the need to redefine learning objectives and teach its staff how to effectively use GenAI and prevent academic dishonesty and its related areas of misconduct. While in extreme cases, they also example how AI is banned in certain universities. While this could lead to enhancing or disrupting current educational practices.

Both of these articles examine the need to reshape our higher education practices in how classes are taught or overall structured. Earlier in this post I explained how work experienced students and those without work experience have two completely different mindsets when asked how college is preparing them for work life beyond school. With the rapid growth of technology and GenAI, leaving the education sector behind is a massive, missed opportunity if so.

With current adaptations and changes universities are undergoing with GenAI and a forced tech boost post COVID-19 pandemic requirements. We need to integrate AI into classrooms, through its attendance in class and giving tests based on lectures and requirements set by the professor. Giving mini checkpoint tests/quiz’s generated by AI with content and context from within the classroom. Giving the professor insights on how the class is doing with content and understanding.

This would not be in the idea to replace a professor with GenAI, and I do not intend this perspective to show interest in removing the professor from the classroom. As its integration would not only facilitate grading and professor-related tasks but would most benefit the student. With proper use and utilization of GenAI. The class material is now organized, tested, and facilitated by GenAI, allowing students to be effective through learning in a present day GenAI environment.

As GenAI facilitates, it could create content for exams that are relevant, no more surprises for exam preparation or stress of miscommunication between students and their professors. Creating a new wave of effective students and effective GenAI users. Now a student can learn anything while the professor is simply a guide that leads them to data driven education. I would only hope most of these professors would be open to its integration with no friction to its use in class.

What I have seen firsthand in my ITS position here at SDSU, is that professors are now more open to GenAI and its use for their courses than ever before. Some are better with class technology than others, which leaves the question of how generational cohorts might affect the future of teaching anyway. Will professors in the future from Gen Z be more AI intensive than those of Gen A? It’s an interesting thing to sit down and wonder as we get older.  

I have spent a lot of time in college compared to many of my peers, I am now coming close to closing my educational journey, I can only wish the best for those who will be just starting. From my perspective, GenAI has completely reformed how higher education is taught. Mostly how students are learning in and beyond the classroom. I am very excited in watching how GenAI evolves in our everyday lives and beyond.