Harnessing the Potential of AI Technologies to Enhance Student Success

Presented by Muhammad Hassan, Linda Saleh, and Craig Anderson

Introduction

The presenters discuss the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies in academic libraries and learning commons to enhance student success. They emphasize the importance of embracing AI tools to support students in various aspects of their academic journey, from research assistance to skill development.

Understanding Artificial Intelligence

Muhammad Hassan introduces AI as a simulation of human intelligence processed by machines. He notes that while AI has become a popular topic recently, it has been around for a long time. Key applications of AI mentioned include:

Expert systems
Natural language processing (NLP)
Machine vision
Speech recognition

AI and Student Success

The presenters highlight the role of libraries and learning commons in supporting student success. Common student inquiries include:

How to conduct research
Finding articles and resources
Achieving academic goals
Accessing workshops and support services
Improving well-being and efficiency

Muhammad emphasizes that addressing these needs is crucial for student success, and AI technologies can play a significant role in providing solutions.

Integrating AI into Workflows

The team discusses their proactive approach to incorporating AI into their institutional workflows:

Providing workshops for faculty and students on proper AI usage
Developing an AI policy to guide ethical and effective use
Encouraging faculty to learn and embed AI tools in teaching
Collecting and analyzing data using AI tools for insights on student behavior

Data Analysis and Predictive Modeling

Muhammad shares examples of how they use AI to analyze data:

Tracking library usage, tutoring sessions, and resource access
Using AI tools like ChatGPT to analyze large datasets quickly
Applying predictive analysis to determine optimal library hours and resource allocation
Creating heat maps to visualize peak usage times on their website

Challenges with Sentiment Analysis

He notes that while AI excels in processing data, it still struggles with sentiment analysis. Libraries need to ensure AI models are built with proper sentiment understanding and work towards correcting deficiencies.

Student Interactions with AI

Examples from the Learning Commons

Craig Anderson shares anecdotes illustrating how students interact with AI:

A student used QuillBot, an AI tool, to find articles but received fabricated references. She was unaware that the articles were not real.
ESL students used translation tools for assignments, which were flagged by AI detection software as plagiarized, leading to misunderstandings.
A professor mistakenly accused students of cheating by using ChatGPT to confirm authorship of their papers, not realizing the tool can provide misleading affirmations.

Concerns and Misunderstandings

Students worry about being falsely accused of plagiarism due to AI tools. These examples highlight the need for proper education on AI usage and limitations.

When Not to Use AI

Muhammad addresses a question about situations where AI should not be used to ensure student success:

Foundational Learning: In programming courses, students should first learn to code without AI assistance to build a solid understanding.
Writing Skills: In writing-intensive courses, reliance on AI can hinder the development of essential writing abilities.
Communication Skills: In communication classes, students benefit more from interacting with peers rather than AI.

He emphasizes that AI should enhance, not replace, foundational learning and interpersonal interactions.

AI as a Supplementary Tool

Analogy with Calculators

Craig draws an analogy between AI tools and calculators in education:

Just as calculators are introduced after students understand basic arithmetic, AI should be used after foundational skills are developed.
AI can then serve as a tool to enhance and advance learning.

Embracing AI Literacy

Linda Saleh discusses the importance of AI literacy and how AI tools can supplement student learning in areas beyond research:

Reading and comprehending scholarly articles
Preparing presentations and participating in scholarly conversations
Developing coding skills

AI Tools for Skill Development

Reading Assistance

Linda highlights AI tools that help students understand complex academic texts:

ChatPDF: Allows students to upload PDFs and ask questions to gain better understanding.
SciSpace: Provides access to open-access scholarly articles with a co-pilot feature for interactive learning.

Presentation and Public Speaking

AI tools can assist students in creating and delivering effective presentations:

SlidesGo, Clipchamp, SlidesAI: Help in developing visual presentations.
Udly: An AI tool that provides feedback on practice speeches, suggests improvements, and anticipates audience questions.

Coding Assistance

AI tools like Blackbox AI support students in learning programming by offering coding assistance and troubleshooting help.

Balancing AI Use and Critical Thinking

In response to concerns about AI potentially hindering critical thinking skills, the presenters emphasize:

AI tools should be part of a broader set of resources available to students.
Faculty and support services play a crucial role in ensuring students continue to develop essential skills independently.
Teaching students how to use AI properly is vital for their success in an evolving technological landscape.

Ethical Considerations and Policy Development

The presenters acknowledge the importance of discussing the ethics of AI use in education:

Institutions should have conversations about AI ethics at the start of each semester.
Developing clear policies and guidelines helps prevent misuse and misunderstandings.
Emphasizing transparency, authorship, and copyright considerations is essential.

Conclusion

The team concludes by reinforcing the potential of AI technologies to enhance student success when used appropriately. They advocate for defining what success means for students and then integrating AI tools thoughtfully to support that vision.