Surbhi Bharadwaj, Senior Photographer
The incorporation of artificial intelligence (AI) into Yale classrooms has made a significant impact. Over the past academic year, with the introduction of ChatGPT, Yale administrators and educators have adapted their teaching methods to incorporate this innovative technology. While concerns about plagiarism related to AI persist, some professors have embraced its integration into educational settings.
Ben Glaser, an English professor, developed an interest in applying AI to the humanities after participating in a faculty summer course on natural language processing in 2022. Recognizing the potential of AI to transform the writing landscape, he decided to delve deeper into its implications. Teaching an introductory English seminar titled “Writing Essays with AI” in the fall of 2023, Glaser led discussions with his students on utilizing artificial intelligence for writing tasks and explored the dynamics of authorship, creativity, and AI.
The seminar included activities such as reading AI-generated stories, comparing human-written poetry with AI-generated poetry, and practicing AI-assisted essay planning. For their final projects, students researched the applications of AI across various industries.
In November 2022, approximately a year before the course began, OpenAI introduced ChatGPT, a widely-used generative AI program. This launch heightened awareness among students and educators about the transformative potential of AI in education.
The Poorvu Center, Yale’s hub for teaching and learning support, took proactive steps in response to the introduction of ChatGPT. Alfred Guy, the deputy director of the Poorvu Center, led the development of academic AI guidelines after the program’s release. These guidelines, unveiled in January 2023, aimed to aid instructors in incorporating AI tools into their teaching practices.
Drawing from feedback received in workshops and educational initiatives, the guidelines emphasized the capabilities of AI tools and stressed the importance of their thoughtful use in academic environments. The evolving approach of the Poorvu Center towards AI now promotes active engagement and exploration of AI technologies among faculty members.
Jared Wyetzner, a student in Glaser’s class and co-founder of Myndful-AI, highlighted the class consensus that AI tools have a valuable role to play in Yale’s educational framework. Wyetzner likened AI to a facilitative tool, akin to a “calculator” for writing, underscoring the significance of integrating AI with traditional learning methods to enhance the writing process.
In a different context, the CPSC 100 course at Yale seamlessly integrated AI technologies like Duck Debugger and CS50 Duck Bot to support students in programming tasks. Despite initial concerns about academic integrity, course instructors observed positive outcomes, including improved efficiency in addressing student queries and reduced office hour attendance.
Addressing concerns regarding plagiarism, Mick Hunter, Chair of the Yale College Executive Committee, noted a surge in AI-related academic dishonesty cases following the launch of ChatGPT. To counter this trend, the University revised its academic integrity guidelines to encompass AI usage, aiming to promote responsible and ethical AI practices among students.
As educators and institutions navigate the evolving landscape of AI integration in education, the focus on responsible AI utilization, academic integrity, and the enhancement of learning experiences remains crucial. Through proactive measures, well-defined guidelines, and hands-on exploration, Yale continues to lead the way in fostering a harmonious coexistence of AI and traditional pedagogical approaches.
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