Student-Faculty Dialogue About GenAI

In late October, we brought together students and faculty for a round table discussion about GenAI and Academic Integrity. For an hour, faculty and students exchanged ideas and experiences around a set of questions such as:

• How do you use GenAI and why?
• What do students wish faculty understood about GenAI and learning - and vice versa?
• What genAI course policies have worked for students? For faculty?
• How has GenAI changed the relationship between faculty and students?

The room was buzzing with voices at three tables for a full hour, and several participants were still talking at their tables a quarter of an hour after the session concluded! We took notes, but promised to honor our principle of "stories stay, lessons leave." in that spirit, here are our top takeaways from the session:

Student - Faculty Relationship

GenAI has led to a mutual and threatening erosion of trust between faculty and students: faculty feel forced to be vigilant against possible misuse of GAI when grading, and students worry that they will be accused of using GAI inappropriately even when they are not. This underscores the importance of creating, or re-creating a high trust classroom environment, which requires dialog.
Students seek meaningful connection: There is a desire for more human connection, especially among students. Interestingly, assignments that maximize human connection (e.g. group work) seem to drive down the prevalence of GAI use as they strengthen social bonds.

The "Why" Matters

Students want to hear more than just "Don't use GAI" from faculty: they want to hear the reasons why certain uses are discouraged or prohibited. This means that faculty need to be able to articulate their learning objectives, and how these intersect with assignments on a granular level.

Transparency, please!

Everyone wishes there was clearer communication and transparency about GAI at all levels: from the administration, from deans and departments, and from faculty setting policy for their courses. Every educator and student can help grow this culture of clear communication by asking questions and voicing their concerns and ideas. 

Growing Metacognitive Awareness

Students generally have a better understanding of GAI's impact on their learning now than when the tools first became popular in late 2022.

Students' Ease with AI is a Myth

Many students are not as "good" at using GenAI as faculty often assume. Faculty may want to consider assessing their students' skill levels and providing guidance or resources accordingly, especially around the ethics and security practices that will be useful for us all. 

Balancing Education Goals and Skill Development

There was a lot of discussion around job preparedness in a world where employers are embracing AI of all types; about the tension between efficiency and deep (and slow) learning, between product and process; which led to discussions around the role, significance and value of a liberal arts education.

Everyone Wants More Dialogue

Faculty really appreciated the opportunity to talk with students and expressed a desire for more dialogue. The dominant piece of feedback was that participants wished they had had more time to deepen or continue their discussion. 

DCAL and LDI will continue to offer sessions like these, and encourage you to book a consultation with us to plan how you might approach a conversation with your own students about these ideas.