Innovation or Threat: The Use of AI in the Academe

Written by Marlaine Tagayuna

Contributions of Ms. Xan Orial

Ever since the beginning of the development of Artificial Intelligence, it has slowly been incorporated into education systems across the globe. The development of this new technology paves the way for several opportunities but also poses risks, hence why it is a debatable topic whether or not its use is acceptable in the academe–whether it should be considered a remarkable innovation or a rising threat in the world of academics. Miss Xan Orial, a Senior High School instructor of Media and Information Literacy, shares her insights on the use of AI in the academe.

Yes or no to the use of AI in the academe?

Yes, but with a clear set of boundaries. 

Did you utilize AI tools when you were still studying (college/master's)?

Yes, I absolutely utilized AI tools when I was writing my master’s thesis! As a full-time educator and most specifically, an instructor of Media and Information Literacy, I am fully aware of the fact that we humans should utilize technology for our benefit–provided that we do not harm anyone; in this case, I made sure I utilized AI tools without compromising the INTEGRITY of my research. Therefore, I used non-generative AI tools for tasks that did not directly affect the content of my research such as paraphrasing, summarizing, and citation generating–tasks that DID NOT require any thinking or analyzing. 

(As a teacher) When did you first encounter the use of AI in education, and what was your initial impression?

To be honest, I don’t remember the first time I encountered the use of AI in education, but I do remember reading student essays that looked “too polished” or “too advanced” for their age. Back then, I just thought they had a bit of help from their parents or tutors–which was not a problem except for when they passed off their work as something they created themselves.

How do you currently use AI tools in your teaching practices, if at all?

In my current teaching practice, I am still working on figuring out how AI tools can help make my job more convenient. For now, I just ask Meta for some suggested criteria for evaluating assessments. For example, making a rubric for grading video presentations, live performances, etc. This is so that I would be able to construct an objective set of criteria for grading student assessments. As for the content of the courses I teach, I still stick to the traditional sources of information (books and trusted websites) in fear of passing on invalid information to my dear students. 

What are your thoughts on students using AI for assignments or projects? When can you say that it’s still an opportunity and when it’s already a risk?

I believe it would be wise for students to use AI for the non-essential tasks related to the accomplishment of their assignments/projects. As I always tell my students, the dishonesty or honesty of AI utilization depends on what is being assessed in their assignment/project. For example, if they are being asked to make a video. If they use AI to MAKE THE VIDEO ITSELF, then obviously, that’s cheating. But if they use AI to generate ideas or concepts for their video, then modify that AI-generated idea and MAKE IT THEIR OWN (you know, we all need inspiration and that’s fine!), I personally believe that is okay. 

Have you faced any challenges or concerns regarding AI in academics? How did you address them?

Hmmmmmm… Nowadays, it is hard to tell. I would just do my best to trust my students and give them opportunities to prove that they know the concept (topic) EVEN WITHOUT AI. I do this by giving more onsite activities and conducting more “unplugged” learning assessments (assessments that do not involve the use of laptops/Internet). 

Are there specific AI tools or platforms you recommend for students, and why?

For writing tasks, I found Scribbr quite reliable for citation! Also, I highly advocate giving proper credit to our beloved sources when doing our research or even just basic academic papers. Not only is it being honest but it is also making our work more credible. :) Quillbot is also quite helpful for paraphrasing and summarizing–the grammatical and technical construction of the paraphrases and summaries generated by Quillbot are good. Just make sure that we still modify the paraphrases and summaries in a way that matches your unique writing style. Because you know, we all have our unique tone when writing; readers will know if we utilized AI if we copy and paste directly from Quillbot or any AI writing tool, so yeah.. Still modify! 

As an educator, how do you ensure that the use of AI promotes critical thinking rather than reliance on technology?

Well, I always emphasize the use of AI tools for tasks that do not require OUR thinking or analysis, and that AI tools must be utilized to ENHANCE–not do the work for us. We should view AI as our chief mate. At the end of the day, we should still be the captain of the ship.

In your opinion, how will AI shape the future of education?

If used properly and wisely, AI could definitely propel learning to great heights!