Key Takeaways
- Many college students are already using artificial intelligence for their academic work, despite some fears about its impact.
- AI is often used for tasks like brainstorming, summarizing texts, and refining drafts, rather than simply to cheat.
- When used thoughtfully, AI can help students focus on deeper critical thinking and boost their creative expression.
- New methods are being developed to teach students how to use AI effectively and maintain their unique voice.
- Educators are encouraged to help students learn how to partner with AI as a writing tool.
While some educators worry artificial intelligence might harm student learning, one writing professor sees it more as an opportunity. The fear is that AI could lead to shallow work, curb critical thinking, or even encourage cheating. This concern might be why many students hesitate to admit they use tools like ChatGPT.
As historian D. Graham Burnett shared in The New Yorker, students at Princeton seemed “paralyzed” when asked about ChatGPT use, not out of dishonesty, but perhaps because they’ve absorbed the idea that it’s wrong. Yet, evidence shows AI use is widespread. A February 2024 report from the Higher Education Policy Institute in the U.K. found that 92% of university students use AI in some way.
Here in the U.S., at Kennesaw State University where I teach, over half of first-year students believed AI was the future of writing as early as August 2023, just months after ChatGPT became public. It’s clear AI isn’t going away, so it’s worth exploring how it can actually enhance the writing process.
A February 2024 OpenAI report revealed that common student uses for ChatGPT include starting papers (49%), summarizing long texts (48%), brainstorming (45%), exploring new topics (44%), and revising writing (44%). These numbers, reported in an article from The Conversation, suggest students are using AI to support their learning, not just bypass it.
This indicates AI can free students from some routine tasks, allowing more time for deeper engagement like organizing ideas, strengthening arguments, and refining their style. If AI handles tasks like information retrieval or checking verb tenses, it doesn’t mean students are thinking less; their thinking is simply evolving.
Of course, passively accepting AI’s output or over-relying on it can be problematic, potentially weakening a student’s unique voice. However, if students learn to use AI intentionally, this shift becomes an opportunity rather than a setback.
AI, when used responsibly, can even augment human creativity. Science comedy writer Sarah Rose Siskind, for example, told Harvard students she uses ChatGPT to brainstorm joke setups, which frees her to focus on crafting punchlines and perfecting her comedic timing. AI amplified her creativity, not replaced it.
At Kennesaw State University, my colleagues and I developed the Rhetorical Prompting Method. It’s a framework that teaches students to converse with AI chatbots effectively, emphasizing their own agency in guiding the AI’s output.
This method encourages writers to use precise language in their prompts, think critically about AI’s suggestions, and intentionally revise both their inputs and the AI’s outputs. It’s about a thoughtful back-and-forth, much like the traditional writing process of drafting and revising.
For instance, a student creating a social media PSA for campus composting would prompt ChatGPT for a short, upbeat message. If the first draft lacks urgency, she revises the prompt, adding specifics, until the AI produces a message aligned with her vision: “Every scrap counts! Join campus composting today at the Commons. Your leftovers aren’t trash – they’re tomorrow’s gardens. Help our university bloom brighter, one compost bin at a time.”
Early results from a study on this method are promising. Of 133 users, 92% said it helped them evaluate writing choices, 75% felt they maintained their authentic voice, and 89% reported it helped them think critically about their writing. This suggests learners are using AI thoughtfully.
While debates continue about AI’s appropriate use, students are undeniably using it. Providing them with frameworks can help them deepen their thinking and improve their writing. AI, then, can be more than just a tool for simple tasks; it can be a real asset for creativity.
If today’s students see AI as a writing partner, educators might find it beneficial to help them learn the best ways to collaborate with this evolving technology.
