Higher Education's Unconsented AI Experiment - Episode Hero Image

Higher Education's Unconsented AI Experiment

Up First from NPR · · Listen to Original Episode →
Original Title:

Related Episodes

Resources

Resources & Recommendations

Books

  • "Higher Education's AI Problem" (Implied title from episode) - This episode discusses the challenges and opportunities presented by AI in higher education, touching on its impact on students, professors, and the job market.

Research & Studies

  • Survey by Inside Higher Ed and Generation Lab - This survey of 1,000 undergraduates found that 85% used generative AI for coursework in the past year, with varying uses from brainstorming to writing full essays.
  • MIT Study on AI and Critical Thinking - This study recorded brain activity and found that people using AI to write essays had lower neural connectivity and engagement compared to those using Google search or no tools.

People Mentioned

  • Max Moundus (Computer Science Major at Vanderbilt University) - A student who experienced panic about AI's impact on his computer science education and later became an AI research engineer.
  • Dan Arena (Professor at Vanderbilt University) - A professor who experimented with giving his final exams to ChatGPT to assess its capabilities and calm student anxieties.
  • Tanya Tetlow (President of Fordham University) - Discussed concerns about AI's impact on the job market for computer science majors and the need for universities to adapt by teaching critical thinking and emotional intelligence.
  • Aisha Tarana (University of Minnesota Twin Cities student) - Conducted a research project interviewing 10 students about their AI usage, finding that many used it to "make it easier to do better" but also expressed concerns about critical thinking.
  • Leslie Clement (Professor at Johnson C. Smith University) - An English, Spanish, and African Studies professor who embraces AI in her teaching, encouraging responsible use and teaching students to fact-check AI output.
  • Dan Cryer (English Professor at Johnson Community College in Kansas) - A skeptical professor who believes AI tools can be actively harmful by acting as a shortcut that cheats students out of the educational process and critical thinking development.

Organizations & Institutions

  • Johnson C. Smith University - A Historically Black University in Charlotte, North Carolina, where Professor Leslie Clement teaches.
  • Fordham University - An institution whose president, Tanya Tetlow, discussed the challenges and necessary adaptations for universities in the age of AI.
  • Johnson Community College - A community college in Kansas where English Professor Dan Cryer teaches.
  • Tarbell Center for AI Journalism - Provided a grant that supported the reporting for this episode.

Courses & Educational Resources

  • AI and the African Diaspora - A new course co-created by Leslie Clement and other professors at Johnson C. Smith University to introduce students to AI and its relevance to black history and experiences.

Websites & Online Resources

  • Latimer AI - Described as "the black ChatGPT," designed to provide more information about black history and experiences than traditional ChatGPT.

Other Resources

  • TED Radio Hour podcast series: "Are the Kids All Right?" - A series that looks at the use of AI in elementary school classrooms, mentioned as a related resource for listeners interested in AI and education.

---
Handpicked links, AI-assisted summaries. Human judgment, machine efficiency.
This content is a personally curated review and synopsis derived from the original podcast episode.