- The AI Collaborative: Higher Education Edition
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- Higher Ed Issue #3: Mirrors into Windows
Higher Ed Issue #3: Mirrors into Windows
France Hoang
June 25, 2024 • Est. Reading Time: 8 minutes
The AI Collaborative:
Higher Education Edition
The latest news and notes for higher education leaders interested in AI in the classroom and for classwork.
Quote to AI Generated Image of the Week
“The whole purpose of education is to turn mirrors into windows.”
- Sydney J. Harris
This Week In 3 Bullets
AI and Higher Ed in the News
AI Meets Academia—Navigating the New Terrain: Instead of outright banning or blindly accepting generative AI tools, educators should equip students with the skills to navigate and responsibly use these tools, as they can help demystify academic practices and increase accessibility for students trying to engage with scholarly work.
Murky Guidelines on Using AI Recording Devices in Classrooms. As AI-powered transcription and note-taking apps gain popularity among students seeking efficiency, universities grapple with developing clear policies to address concerns around privacy, consent, and the potential impact on learning while exploring responsible integration of these emerging technologies.
Artificial Intelligence Across Higher Education. Discover how New Jersey colleges and universities are being impacted by AI and how they are implementing it throughout their respective institutions.
Example AI Use Case in the Classroom
Lesson Plan: Exploring AI in Philosophical Argumentation
Objectives: (1) Understand the current capabilities and limitations of AI in constructing philosophical argument. (2) Develop critical thinking skills by evaluating and comparing AI-generated and human-constructed philosophical arguments. (3) Explore the ethical implications of using AI in philosophical discourse. (4) Foster responsible AI use by recognizing the importance of human reasoning and original thought in philosophy
Activity 1: Human Philosophical Argument (45 minutes): (1) Provide a classic philosophical question (e.g., "What is the nature of consciousness?") (2) Students individually construct a philosophical argument addressing the question without AI assistance. (3) Encourage students to use logical reasoning and cite relevant philosophers or theories
Activity 2: AI-Generated Philosophical Argument (30 minutes): (1) Students use a language model AI (e.g., Claude) to generate a philosophical argument on the same question.
Activity 3: Comparative Analysis (60 minutes): (1) In small groups or individually, students analyze and compare the AI-generated argument to their own. (2) Discuss the strengths, weaknesses, and differences between the AI and human-constructed arguments. (3) Identify areas where the AI excelled or fell short (e.g., logical consistency, depth of analysis, originality of ideas). (4) Evaluate the AI's ability to incorporate philosophical concepts and theories accurately
Activity 4: Socratic Dialogue with AI (45 minutes). (1) Demonstrate a Socratic dialogue between a human and the AI on the philosophical question (2) Students take turns engaging in a short Socratic dialogue with the AI (3) Reflect on the AI's ability to respond to probing questions and maintain logical consistency
Wrap-Up Discussion (30 minutes): (1) Reflect on the experience as a class. (2) Discuss the potential uses and limitations of AI in philosophical inquiry (3) Explore the ethical implications of using AI in philosophy (e.g., authorship, originality of ideas) (4) Consider how AI might influence the future of philosophical discourse and education
Potential Outcomes: (1) Students gain hands-on experience with AI language models in a philosophical context (2) They develop critical evaluation skills by comparing AI and human-constructed philosophical arguments (3) Students understand the strengths and limitations of AI in philosophical reasoning (4) They recognize the unique value of human creativity and intuition in philosophical inquiry (5) The activity fosters discussions on the nature of consciousness, intelligence, and the potential philosophical implications of advanced AI (6) Students consider the ethical dimensions of AI use in academic philosophy and beyond
Higher Education Leaders Partner to Advance Collaborative AI in the Classroom
The following higher education leaders recently joined boodleAI’s Leadership Council on Collaborative AI in Higher Education:
Dr. Jason Gulya, Professor of English; Chair, AI Council, Berkeley College
Dr. Dean Goon, Dean of Academic Innovation, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
Dr. Elisabeth Dellegrazie, Assistant Dean of Faculty, Curriculum, and Instruction, Concordia University Chicago
Dr. Kevin Trainor, Assistant Professor of Practice, Marquette University
Dr. Alyse Jordan, Head of Research, Engagement & Learning, Lamar University
Dr. Berkley Baker, Professor of Practice, J. Mack Robinson College of Business, Georgia State University
Interested in joining? Apply today.
From the Collaborative
Beyond Tinkering: Why Colleges Need to Start Strategizing for the Age of AI. Dr. Jason Gulya emphasizes the need for colleges to move beyond tinkering with AI and start strategizing for the Age of AI by creating a pipeline for experimentation and incorporating students deeply in the process.
Analyzing AI Tools for Education: A Comparative Assessment. Dr. Thomas Conway provides a comparative assessment of two AI tools for education, highlighting their potential benefits and challenges in a thought-provoking LinkedIn article.
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This Week’s Collaborative AI for Higher Ed Webinars
June 25th | 3PM ET/12PM PT | Webinar: Best Practices for Collaborative GenAI in the Classroom
Register Here
Access training, resources, AI tools, and a supportive community of educators to responsibly integrate GenAI into your curriculum with the Collaborative AI Accelerator for Higher Education - BoodleBox.
Behind the Curtain
This newsletter exists to inform and connect those in higher education interested in helping faculty and students responsibly collaborate with GenAI. Come learn more about BoodleBox for Education, and if you’re already onboard, bring a colleague - we’d really appreciate it.
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