What Is It Like to Struggle With Learning in the Age of AI?
The unclear restriction of AI may alter professor's teaching methods in the classroom.
UW's culture shift reflects an overall trend in academia. As AI simplifies the research process and provides specific responses, students and faculty must balance new technical facilities and answer-getting with the age-old process of trying, failing, and trying again. The swift advancement of AI raises questions about how UW culture may adjust.
When ChatGPT 3.5 was released on November 30, 2022, its academic impact was underestimated. ChatGPT and similar Al work assistants can generate entire essays and code on virtually any topic within seconds when prompted. They can do so because of their training on vast datasets and models. Students increasingly use these tools to speed up essay writing and bypass the learning process.
However, the UW community welcomed this shift, seeing AI as a valuable tool for fostering learning and teaching. The student toolkit now includes generative AI, which has transformed the instructor’s teaching methods and interaction with students in class. Denzil J. Suite, Vice President for Student Life, highlights the university's flexible policy on technology use. He says, "Academic standards for using technology and online resources in class materials will be determined by the instructor," without mandating an outright avoidance of seeking external assistance.
Students already have become more reliant on generative AI for academic tasks, from coding assignments to complex research projects. A UW undergraduate student majoring in Informatics and Economics, Xinlong Chen, stated, "Everyone loves ChatGPT; it's become a key tool for getting the best outcome for every department’s school work." Meanwhile, an American University in Washington, D.C. student, Romes Chen, said, "We have to use VPNs to access ChatGPT in class as it is blocked on our campus network, so you now need two devices to use generative AI in universities."
While ChatGPT has been recognized for enhancing the quality of work, questions remain about its impact on hands-on learning opportunities. The UW Center for Teaching and Learning has emphasized the value of struggle in education, encouraging UW instructors to establish clear AI usage restrictions in their classes to ensure that overcoming challenges remains a crucial aspect of academic achievement.
Students have a crucial role in shaping the future of AI as it evolves. Shaping the best possible future for AI demands much hard work and struggle.
