There’s a growing divide between students who use artificial intelligence (AI) in their college coursework and professors who understand and apply this technology as well. While 56% of students say AI has made their workflows more efficient (and 51% say it has helped them get better grades), only 14% of professors say they are confident in their ability to use AI while teaching.
The Stanford Graduate School of Business (GSB) has developed a guide for professors who are interested in embracing this technology to elevate their lesson plans. Discover how strategic AI implementation can transform higher education by fostering deeper student engagement, improving learning outcomes, and enhancing teaching strategies.
Choose AI solutions carefully.
There are more than 65,000 EdTech companies that are vying for the attention of teachers and professors. Experts estimate that AI in the EdTech market will be worth nearly $7 billion in 2025 and has the potential to balloon to $92 billion by 2033. This means there are countless AI options to try out in the classroom – but they aren’t created equal.
Stanford GSB outlines four criteria that educators can use to evaluate various apps and software solutions when teaching with AI. These decision factors allow professors to ensure that AI solutions are ethical, valuable, and fall within administrative policies. Here are the factors to guide your AI evaluation checklist:
- School and department policy: Follow the policies that your school or department has already created regarding AI in the classroom. This might be challenging. As of early 2024, 81% of college presidents had yet to publish a policy governing AI use. You may need to urge your department chair or administration to develop formal policies to guide AI software selection.
- Academic integrity: Ensure the software can be used ethically and won’t disrupt the learning process. AI should not do assignments for students. Instead, it should be a tool that allows them to learn, retain, and present information more effectively.
- Opportunities and limitations: Evaluate the pros and cons of every AI tool you consider adding to various lesson plans. Consider how various software solutions can improve the classroom experience or potentially detract from it.
- Emerging leaders: Look at resources that other professors and schools are using. See which ones stand out as the best.
Professors don’t have to choose a singular AI tool that they roll out across all of their lesson plans. Instead, they might test out a few different options to see which ones meet the needs of specific activities and topics.
Define clear learning and engagement goals.
One of the biggest mistakes that professors make is implementing AI because it is on-trend or frequently discussed across departments. AI isn’t effective when it isn’t implemented meaningfully. Rushing to add AI into the classroom could result in students abusing the technology or not understanding why it was required of them.
When teaching with AI, mindfully approach the learning goals of each lesson plan. Consider how AI can boost engagement and help students better connect with the material. This is a good opportunity to look at engagement metrics and identify goals to increase them. For example, if you teach a large lecture hall of 200 students, set engagement goals of 150 responses after implementing the AI system.
Implementing AI isn’t the same as embracing past forms of technology – like switching from printed to digitally submitted essays. Educators need to track the value that certain solutions provide and confirm that help students learn effectively.
Generate expertise-building opportunities.
A significant concern when teaching with AI is that it does the work for students, potentially limiting the information they learn and retain. However, professors need to develop lessons that can’t easily be completed by AI and instead challenge students to build on their existing knowledge and expertise.
AI has the potential to separate weak lesson plans that allow students to regurgitate information from strong assignments and activities that support skill-building. This could be an opportunity for professors to elevate their lessons and the classroom experience as a whole.
To apply this, consider how you want to use AI in the classroom. It can provide personalized learning, help students comb through large batches of data, and guide the research process. Students can actively apply the AI tool as a solution and then use the information they glean from it to complete the assignment. They can spend more time applying information and thinking critically instead of getting caught up in the research process.
AI can be a partner and a tool, not a way to cheat through assignments. If AI software can easily complete the lesson plans developed across various courses, it might be time to change how students are taught.
Evaluate where AI falls in the learning process.
AI tools can be used throughout lesson plans, starting from the initial exploration of a topic and assisting until various assignments are complete. Consider how you want to use AI and where it can be added to different lesson plans. Stanford GSB identified four ways that AI can be applied to support student learning outcomes:
- Creation: Generative AI can produce copy, code, or images that contribute to the learning process.
- Evaluation: AI can analyze data and make it easier for students to take large bodies of information and identify the most important parts while identifying trends.
- Application: AI software can simulate situations and allow students to apply their newly acquired skills.
- Understanding: AI systems can help students gain a deeper understanding of the information by providing unique explanations or examples.
Different lesson plans call for different AI solutions. Some classrooms might benefit from AI software that makes evaluating and analyzing data easier. Other classrooms might need AI software that allows students to simulate different situations and apply what they learned. As long as AI is applied meaningfully, it can be valuable.
Test AI solutions to see which ones work best.
One of the benefits of having access to a large EdTech market is that professors can test different products and find the ideal options that work for them. A software solution that works for one classroom might not be a good fit for another. Each department, classroom, and course will have its own opportunities and requirements to apply AI mindfully. By following the Standard GSB framework, professors can move forward with confidence when teaching with AI.
Poll Everywhere is an excellent starting point for EdTech implementation. This response software was designed for the higher education classroom. Explore how interactive tools can transform your classroom experience. A single step toward digital engagement can create meaningful connections and improve learning outcomes. Start engaging your audience today.
