Addressing Academic Integrity in the Age of Generative AI: Strategies and Insights from Cornell Faculty
Rethinking Education: Navigating the Intersection of AI and Academic Integrity at Cornell
Since the meteoric rise of generative AI in late 2022, educators have been grappling with its impact on assessment, critical thinking, creativity, and overall classroom dynamics. At Cornell University, faculty members are actively engaging with these pressing questions through the Provost’s Working Group on Innovation in Assessment (PWGIA). The upcoming event, “Academic Integrity and Artificial Intelligence: Strategies for Responding,” will shed light on innovative strategies for addressing these challenges.
Event Details
Set to take place on November 12, from 2:00-3:15 p.m. in Room G64, Kaufman Auditorium, Goldwin Smith Hall, this forum promises to be a thought-provoking exploration of the relationship between AI and academic integrity. Attendees can expect to learn about assignment design that inspires genuine student engagement and fosters a culture of accountability.
Rethinking Assignments
Rob Vanderlan, executive director of the Center for Teaching Innovation (CTI), notes that many faculty members are reassessing their assignments due to AI’s influence. “We can all benefit from thoughtful ideas for assignment design that tap into students’ motivation to learn, and that incentivize them to do the hard work that meaningful learning entails.” This desire to innovate is echoed across the academic landscape, emphasizing the need for assignment designs that resonate with students while upholding academic integrity.
Keynote Insights
The keynote, presented by M. Elizabeth Karns, provost fellow and senior lecturer at the Cornell Ann S. Bowers College of Computing and Information Science, will deliver practical guidelines aimed at both faculty and students. Her insights will provide a framework for how educators can communicate expectations surrounding generative AI and how they can react constructively to potential academic integrity violations.
Faculty Panel Discussion
Following the keynote, a faculty panel will dive deeper into promoting student ownership of learning. Featuring Tim Riley, a mathematics professor and director of the Active Learning Initiative, and Kate Navickas, senior lecturer in the John S. Knight Institute for Writing in the Disciplines, the panel will share effective strategies for creating cultures of accountability in their classrooms.
Riley plans to discuss his shift in assessment methods for his Introduction to Analysis course, moving from traditional exams to a more holistic homework portfolio and quizzes that allow for multiple attempts. This shift not only supports learning but also reduces the pressure associated with high-stakes testing.
Navickas will share her experience utilizing a labor-based grading contract in her First Year Writing seminar, emphasizing the importance of recognizing efforts and improvements over merely judging the final product. She’ll also highlight how she incorporates scaffolding and encourages reflective practices, allowing students to develop a profound understanding of the writing process.
Engaging the Community
Topics for discussion will likely cover the formal and informal policies surrounding generative AI and academic integrity, as well as student responses to the innovative assessment strategies presented. This event is part of a broader initiative by the PWGIA, which emphasizes authentic assessment and creative approaches to learning.
Conclusion
“Academic Integrity and Artificial Intelligence: Strategies for Responding” is not just a conversation but a call to action, inviting Cornell faculty and graduate students to engage in shaping the future of education amid technological advancements. As we embrace the challenges and opportunities posed by generative AI, it’s essential that we collectively reinforce the values of academic integrity, critical thinking, and genuine learning. This event stands as a pivotal moment for the Cornell community to explore these themes and chart a forward path together.
Join us for a meaningful dialogue about the evolving landscape of education and academic integrity!