Are students cheating? This inquiry is only one of many conundrums being discussed between two educators on morning walks. Sometimes the conversation steers itself to deeper issues: How do we handle our own aging selves much less the dynamics of aging parents? But at the beginning of an academic year, as we listen to presentations on mental health concerns and active shooters, discussing the realities of AI (Artificial Intelligence) appears less weighty than some of the other topics we grapple with. However, in addition to our friendly morning conversations, recent occurrences have magnified the significance that this topic is not to be taken lightly either.

As an educator who teaches courses in both face-to-face and online formats, there is always the dilemma of whether students are submitting their own work. Although students sign an honor code committing to original work, attempting to police the authenticity of their work becomes problematic. Policies and procedures can be implemented to “catch” students, perhaps deter them, but those of us in more Seasoned stages of life understand that the only person they are cheating, in these circumstances, is themselves. At some point, everyone must determine for themselves whether shortcuts are the right thing to do. And every educator must navigate how to address AI in their courses.

Now, to be honest, my preference when discussing AI is to be engaged in conversations about Appreciative Inquiry and not Artificial Intelligence, and yet, here we are, so I propose there are two strategies useful for anyone attempting to guide Emerging Generations: (1) to cultivate a Digital Philosophy, and (2) to teach AI Literacy. And the marvelous aspect of both is that they are favorable to including a faith-based component.

Because you can follow the link to learn about what it means to cultivate a Digital Philosophy, I will not delve into that item here except to offer that we all have one, whether we designate it in formal terms or not. English professor David Malone captured, for me at least, what this means for college educators. In a 2023 faculty panel discussion, David offered that he shares with his students how much he values hearing their voice, how important it is to read their writing, these are the values he holds, not what someone else thinks, especially not a computer-generated algorithm that is not made in the image of God. David’s thoughts mirror those shared in other academic platforms as well, whether it was the 2023 Digital Pedagogy Institute or the 2023 Christianity in the Academy Conference. The issue is being addressed and discussed in every discipline and in all aspects of society.

In her devotional for Our Daily Bread, Monica LaRose offers a Scriptural perspective to AI for life in general, which I believe is particularly relevant for those in Emerging Adulthood, which I will discuss more in the post AI Literacy. LaRose shares, “While handling artificial intelligence technology responsibly is a modern challenge, humanity has long faced the influence of untrustworthy voices. In the book of Proverbs, we’re warned of the influence of those who wish to hurt others for their benefit (1:13-19). And we’re urged to heed instead the voice of wisdom, described as crying out in the streets for our attention (vv. 20-23).” When we embrace that we are Fearfully and Wonderfully Made, our attention needs to be drawn to reflect on the voices we allow to speak into our lives, whether that’s related to life-changing decisions about caring for our elderly population or simply completing an assignment for class. And I encourage us to take seriously our approach to our devices, to consider issues like the Great Rewiring, and to seek out ways to cultivate AI Literacy in our homes, classrooms, and communities. Our health and well-being are at stake!

References:

LaRose, M. (2024, August 7). The voice we can trust. Our Daily Bread. Retrieved from https://odb.org/2024/08/07/the-voice-we-can-trust