Rapid artificial intelligence (AI) advancements are transforming various industries, including education. At the University of Colorado Denver Business School, faculty members are deeply engaged in exploring the implications and opportunities of AI in education. Dawn Gregg, PhD, a CU Denver Business School professor, integrates AI into all her courses. She demonstrates how educational institutions can prepare students for an AI-driven workplace.
AI’s ability to personalize learning experiences to meet individual student needs is a valuable asset in the classroom. In Gregg’s courses, students can rely on ChatGPT as a personal tutor to receive information based on their unique needs. They are also taught prompt engineering techniques to improve the quality of their code and shorten development time. Additionally, students can receive extra support in challenging areas, ensuring they fully grasp complex concepts. “I promote AI use in the classroom by having students generate their assignments and projects through ChatGPT. This approach enables students to create learning experiences that align with their interests and career goals,” says Gregg. Personalization is a crucial component of using AI in education, as it enhances learning and teaches students to utilize AI effectively.
Maintaining student privacy is crucial when integrating AI into the classroom. In Gregg’s courses, she focuses on making AI use “explicit and discussable.” She upholds academic integrity by adopting a transparent approach where students must submit comprehensive generative AI logs alongside their assignments. She ensures that AI usage is monitored to mitigate potential privacy concerns. Gregg shares, “By requiring students to submit ChatGPT logs, I ensure they’re using AI to enhance their learning rather than replace it.” This proactive approach is a valuable educational experience. It teaches students how to safeguard personal information and effectively use AI systems to ensure they are well-prepared to navigate AI use in their future careers.
As AI rapidly evolves as a new technology, it brings significant ethical considerations. In Gregg’s data governance and ethics class, students directly confront these issues while actively engaging with AI applications. This hands-on approach not only enhances their awareness of ethical challenges but also provides insights into navigating the evolving ethical landscape of AI. By working with real-world scenarios, students develop critical thinking skills and a deeper understanding of the ethical implications surrounding AI implementation. This prepares them to integrate AI technologies responsibly into their future professions while upholding ethical standards and values.
Several key considerations must be addressed as educational institutions integrate AI into the learning experience. “In my experience, generative AI tools can serve as powerful learning aids, helping students grasp complex concepts and develop problem-solving skills,” emphasizes Gregg. “The challenge will be maintaining academic integrity and keeping our curriculum up-to-date with rapidly evolving AI technology.” Institutions must strive to balance the benefits of AI with preserving foundational elements of education, such as critical thinking and ethical reasoning. By thoughtfully incorporating AI, educational institutions can provide students with cutting-edge, valuable tools while ensuring they develop essential skills for their future careers.
CU Denver Business School is making significant strides in integrating AI into our curriculum. Many of our programs now feature AI components, showcasing our commitment to staying at the forefront of AI and its applications. The infographic illustrates how different programs are implementing these changes.
CU Denver Business School is dedicated to continuously integrating AI into our courses and addressing its challenges. By doing so, we aim to equip our students with the knowledge and skills they need to succeed in an AI-driven world.
