Statement on Generative AI
As educational developers at the Searle Center for Advancing Learning and Teaching, we bring a “wicked problems mindset” to the use of Generative AI (GAI) tools. We recognize that there are serious concerns about hallucinations, algorithmic bias, environmental impact, intellectual property, ethical use, and inequities in digital access. At the same time, we marvel at the innovative ways that instructors from diverse fields are leveraging GAI tools to optimize learning experiences and equip students with the skills necessary to excel in their future careers. To ensure that instructors and departments are up to date with latest thinking and developments around the use of GAI in higher education, we bring thought leaders to campus to speak on the implications for GAI learning and teaching, including C. Edward Watson.
What we wrote in our first guide, Exploring the Pedagogical Possibilities of Generative AI, still resonates: “We have a responsibility to look for the gifts of creativity, increased student engagement, and expanded learning experiences that GAI tools may spark or jolt us to consider.” In the openings that emerge from disruptions, we see instructors demonstrating remarkable care and agility. As their thought partners, we approach GAI with curiosity combined with the recognition that the specific learning and teaching contexts shape how the consequences of using GAI are weighed.
Our resources and workshops continue to build AI literacy and curate the latest instructional approaches to GAI. We try to move beyond the understandable urge to make assignments “GAI proof” and encourage instructors to reflect on how they might use AI to enhance learning. In our Course Design Institute: GAI Edition, instructors experiment with GAI tools as course building partners, saving time and effort in customizing learning materials. We share how to work “backwards” from assignments using GAI tools to create and enhance assessment rubrics with more consistent, actionable, and growth-minded feedback.
It is important that we make space for collegial knowledge-sharing, including the voices of those who are skeptical, enthusiastic, or just joining the conversation. Programs/departments can request consultations or tailored programming, including dialogue facilitated by Searle Center’s educational developers to collectively explore issues and make informed decisions about GAI. We do not advocate for an open or restrictive policy or instructor-guided or student-guided use; instead, we simply emphasize the importance of communicating clear expectations around the use of GAI. We also encourage instructors to co-create guidelines with students and to share a spirit of openness on learning about GAI alongside their students.
As part of the Searle Center’s commitment to humanizing pedagogy, we define responsible GAI use as carefully considered efforts to enhance learning and teaching while preserving instructor vitality and essential human interaction that fosters students' critical thinking and deeper learning.