TUESDAY TEACHING TIP: AI or Not? Rethinking Education Together

Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools such as ChatGPT and Gemini are increasingly part of students’ daily lives. Faculty across disciplines are asking: What role should AI play in higher education? Should we embrace it as a partner in learning, restrict it to protect academic integrity, or find a thoughtful middle ground?

The reality is that AI is reshaping how we think about creativity, authorship, and the purpose of assignments themselves. This moment offers us an opportunity to re-examine not only how students complete their work, but also what we most want them to learn.

Here’s one way to do it 

• Invite student voices. Try setting aside five minutes in class this week to ask your students: “What opportunities and concerns do you see with AI in your learning?”
  You might be surprised at the range of responses, and it can spark a thoughtful discussion that builds trust and shared responsibility for integrity in your course.
• Make it a department conversation. Add AI as an item in an upcoming department meeting. Hearing how colleagues are using (or addressing) AI in their classrooms can spark ideas, surface challenges, and help create a more consistent message for students.
• Experiment with one assignment. Choose a low-stakes task and explore what changes if students are allowed (or even asked) to use AI for brainstorming, outlining, or critique. Reflect on what this reveals about the skills you most want them to practice.
  
  

DID YOU DO IT?

Let us know how it went. We would love to hear your feedback about how you implemented today’s Tuesday Teaching Tip in your classroom. Click here to fill out our 3-question survey. The survey is anonymous, but if you choose to enter your name, you’ll be entered in a drawing at the end of the quarter to win a new book from Faculty Development!

 

UPCOMING EVENTS 

CAFEs and Workshops

AI & Academic Integrity CAFE on Thursday October 16 

Joint Event on Tuesday October 21 (RSVP separately): Social Justice Teaching CAFE & Social Justice Teaching Workshop

Faculty Workshop on Student Advising on Tuesday October 28

On Campus Writing Retreats

Friday October 17

Monday October 27: Shut Up & MPR

 

WANT TO READ A LITTLE MORE?

• SCU Digital Resources for Teaching (DRT):
  AI in the Classroom (and what about Academic Integrity?)
• Explore the School of Engineering’s AI Squared (AI x Academic Integrity) in Student Learning Website
• Join our NEW Teaching with AI book group. Please email Loring Pfeiffer (lapfeiffer@scu.edu) or Faculty Development (facultydevelopment@scu.edu), if you’re interested in joining!
• Attend NCFDD webinar "The AIs Go Marching On: Finding Our Way with AI in Education" on Oct 24, 2025

 

This week’s Tuesday Teaching Tip was prepared by On Shun Pak on behalf of the Faculty Development and the Center for Teaching Excellence.

Missed a teaching tip? Read them all here. 

And check out our full calendar of CAFEs and other Faculty Development events.