How are professors like Benjamin Breyer using AI in college writing classes?

Professors are developing custom AI tools, like chatbots, to help students practice academic skills and receive targeted feedback.

Is generative AI a threat to academic integrity in universities?

There's a debate; some fear AI shortcuts learning, while others aim to use it as a supplemental tool to enhance critical thinking and writing.

What are the benefits of custom AI chatbots over general AI tools like ChatGPT for students?

Custom chatbots are tailored to specific course content and learning objectives, offering more controlled and relevant educational assistance.

Home / Education / Professors Tame AI for College Writing

Professors Tame AI for College Writing

17 Jan

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Summary

Some professors are building custom AI tools to teach writing.
Custom AI aims to supplement, not replace, student learning.
Educators debate AI's role in academic integrity and skill development.

Universities are grappling with the integration of generative AI in academic settings. Benjamin Breyer, a professor at Barnard College, is developing a custom AI chatbot named Althea to assist students in academic writing, aiming to supplement their learning rather than replace it. This initiative reflects a broader trend among educators seeking to find positive applications for AI, despite some colleagues' reservations.

Professor Breyer's Althea functions as an interactive workbook, guiding students through annotation and thesis development. Unlike off-the-shelf AI, Althea is trained on course materials and exemplary student work to provide more focused feedback. This project, supported by grants, highlights a movement towards creating controlled AI environments for educational purposes, a sentiment echoed by Alexa Alice Joubin at George Washington University, who also developed an AI teaching assistant.

While experiments show mixed results, with initial tests indicating students not using AI performed better, refined versions of Althea have shown improvement. This ongoing exploration suggests that AI, when carefully designed and implemented, can serve as a valuable tool in higher education. Professors are recognizing that while AI may assist with expression, the core ideas remain the human domain, marking an exciting, albeit challenging, transition for academia.