With the advancement of Artificial Intelligence (AI), many individuals are relying heavily on these software. It is a powerful tool that uses algorithms to analyze data, generate content, and solve problems. People have realized how helpful AI can be, which resulted in an overuse of these apps or websites, virtually taking over their lives. This is especially true for students at educational institutions. They may utilize AI to check answers, summarize readings, or give them ideas for writing assignments. However, many students are dependent on AI for the majority of their schoolwork. This is a major problem and creates a barrier between them and their learning. Not only are students aware of how helpful AI is, but so are educators.
As someone with a learning disorder, I struggle immensely with test-taking. However, I am strong in reading and writing, and those are some of my greatest passions. Entering college as an English major with an interest in other humanities, I expected not to take many tests or timed exams. To my surprise, there were a lot more humanities classes that rely on exams. I could not understand why there would be so many assessments, and it created a lot of anxiety for me, as tests do not reflect my best work. With that, I decided to ask Union College professors from humanities departments about their choice to have exams instead of writing assignments.
Every professor’s decision I spoke to came down to AI. One professor of Political Science stated that he was “tired of grading ChatGPT-written papers,” and that he “knew AI had written them, but there is a lack of sufficient evidence.”
Another professor in the English department claimed that “everyone is using AI to write their papers. Now, professors are using bluebook exams for in-class writing.” Professors are aware that students are using AI for writing assignments, and despite all of their protocols about how it is used, students continue to take advantage of it. Even AI detectors struggle to determine if something has been written by AI.
Professors are in a tough position, and even if they prefer to shift away from assessments, they feel as though there is nothing else they can do because of how many students use AI. Humanities courses, especially English classes, are meant to incorporate a heavy amount of writing. However, AI has gotten in the way of this, which takes away the original purpose of these fields of study.
Although AI appears helpful, it causes many challenges that people are not aware of. For example, students who do better on written assignments end up suffering. Test-taking widely favors neurotypical people. Many individuals who have learning disorders struggle under pressure, as well as with a time limit. This can cause them to panic, as they may forget information or need extra time.
AI also makes it so that people do not think for themselves. One cannot truly learn and absorb information if AI is giving them all of the answers. Additionally, there is a rise in academic dishonesty. Students are taking the easy way out, and education is becoming less valuable to them. AI is negatively impacting educational institutions throughout the world, and this is causing a new approach to the study of the humanities. If society continues to abuse AI, education will change for the worse.
