A Future with AI

We don’t need to answer the question of if or when AI in higher education. We have to think about why and how AI.

It’s summer, and several of my podcasts are doing reruns. One of my favorites, Future U, ran an episode from October 2023. It was titled “The Future of Online Ed.” The first part is an interview with Academic Partnerships and Coursera CEOs. It’s hard to think of two companies that have done more to disrupt our industry. I started writing a summary and thought, let’s see what AI would say. Here’s Copilot:

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In the Future U Podcast episode titled “Future of Online Ed,” Jeff and Michael discuss the future of online learning. They are joined by the CEOs of Academic Partnerships, Fernando Bleichmar, and Coursera, Jeff Maggioncalda. Here are the key moments covered in the episode:

1. ROI of Online Programs at Universities: The discussion explores the return on investment (ROI) of online programs offered by universities.
2. Online Education and Pricing: Insights from Coursera and Academic Partnerships regarding online education pricing.
3. Future of Higher Education Partnerships: The CEOs discuss the evolving landscape of higher education partnerships.
4. Value of Certifications in the Job Market: The role of certifications and their value in the job market.
5. Impact of AI on Higher Education: Exploration of how artificial intelligence will shape online education.
6. Disruptive Innovation in Higher Education: Focus on pricing and innovative approaches.

This episode is sponsored by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and Ascendium Education Group¹. If you’d like to listen to the full discussion, you can find it here. 😊

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That’s not a bad summary—there are a lot of topics in this one that we’ve been discussing. The part that surprised me the most was the addition of AI. It will disrupt not just what we do in the classroom but also many of our back-office processes.

Then I came across the Chronicle of Higher Education’s perspective:

How Higher Ed Can Adapt to the Challenges of AI (chronicle.com)

The article makes several good points, but the one that resonated with me is that while the last few decades of students have been digital and then internet natives, our classrooms are now filled with AI natives. AI isn’t science fiction; it’s reality. They don’t know a world without it. Let that sink in.

As we navigate a world where AI is a reality, we need to start with the question, “Why AI”? Then we need to think about “How AI?” So, that assignment, literature review, grading, manuscript editing, research summary, quiz… you get the idea. Why might you choose to incorporate AI (or not)? How will your decision improve the outcomes? (that’s the exciting part for me).

We can fight AI or look to create better outcomes for all involved.

YOU make a difference!

Ponder this with me …

Bonus Links:

A College Is Tapping AI Teaching Assistants. Will It Make a Difference? (chronicle.com)

How Can Academics Use GenAI in Their Research? | AACSB