Over the summer, Rabbi Bellamanconda, vice-president and provost at Ohio State University, announced that starting this fall semester, all Ohio students will be allowed, encouraged, encouraged, encouraged, encouraged, encouraged, and encouraged to use artificial intelligence (AI) to create what the university calls “AI-style ency.”
This change occurs when it exists at all in a national conversation about AI locations in academia. Achieving AI flow encylists include encouraging faculty in all departments to implement AI in their courses, whether drafting lesson plans or summarizing texts, according to the Ohio Department of Academic Affairs.
The rollout of this initiative has prompted conversations about the advantages and disadvantages of using AI in classrooms, especially within higher education.
Over the past week I have had the opportunity to interview four Miami students from diverse academic backgrounds, which have helped real-world students understand how AI is perceived in their respective fields and their potential implementation at the university level.
Maddox John, a senior majoring in biology and pre-health, requires students to use AI, but it is beneficial to be exposed to it. Jung also believes AI is good for brainstorming and inspiration.
“I think encouragement is actually pretty smart just because it's so ingrained in what we're doing today,” John said.
Junior Ally Bambie, a major studio art and art therapy, said she recalled anecdotes from the class when she considered the relationship between art and AI.
“Sitting with your own thoughts for 10 minutes will probably develop a unique idea,” Bambie said. “I had a student who used AI in my print class… I came up with her designs and it felt like the art had no personality.”
Bambie isn't the only one who has concerns about using AI in every major. Her perspective was echoed by Audrey Reed, a junior in the Miami nursing program. While acknowledging AI in the classroom, she said she has reserved its use within her program.
“It's scary to think that future health professionals will rely on AI to pass nursing schools, because we're one day trying to provide life-saving care to our patients,” Reed said. “There is caution in nursing that cannot be obtained from robots. One-on-one connections with patients – they cannot get that from AI.”
Junior Mia Shegenharler, a major in Environmental and Geosciences, said she would be very surprised if Professor Miami encouraged AI. Due to the wide variety of majors and minors in Miami, Siegenthaler said he believes a more customized approach should be taken.
“On obviously things like computer science… they should probably learn about AI, but I don't think it should be encouraged,” Siegenthaler said.
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It remains to be seen whether Ohio's AI-style ency initiative will deliver the outcomes schools want, but Miami's AI policy appears to remain steady and is a major violation of the university's academic fraud policy, using AI to use papers or full assignments.
And while the opinions of the four students I spoke about do not represent the perspectives of all Miami students, a unified truth unites us all. I know that it's better to be a Red Hawk than a Buckeye.
burnsen@miamioh.edu
Emily Burns is a junior opinion writer for Miami students who majors in Environmental and Earth Sciences. She also competes in the Ice Dance for the University of Miami figure skating team.
