AI Integration in Higher Ed: UNCW professor stresses continued importance of critical thinking
WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — As students at UNCW began the spring semester on Wednesday, educators are working to adapt to a world that now commonly uses artificial intelligence.
Integrating generative artificial intelligence into learning environments poses both opportunities and educators as the technology continues to develop.
Dr. Karl Ricanek, a seasoned professor in computer science and engineering at the University of North Carolina Wilmington, underscores the growing popularity of artificial intelligence tools such as ChatGPT. These innovations necessitate a reevaluation of traditional teaching methods, pushing educators to adapt and rethink their approaches.
“This tool — which you can use on your phone or your laptop or your tablet or any device — can provide you with lots of information,” Dr. Ricanek said. “In particular, it can provide you with information about homework assignments and quizzes and tests.”
With a three-decade background in artificial intelligence, Dr. Ricanek acknowledges the shifting educational landscape, noting a significant move towards working more assignments in the classroom. The conventional practice of taking assignments home for completion is fading, replaced by real-time desktop interactions.
In response to the mainstream integration of AI, he advocates for a paradigm shift in teaching methods. Instead of attempting to prohibit AI usage, educators should embrace it as a tool and impart skills to students across all subjects.
“We have to train our students to figure out how to keep up with it because [compared to] when ChatGPT came out, now there are thousands of companies that are leveraging that — which solution do I use? We have to teach our students how to critique these things,” Ricanek said.
Despite the growing influence of AI, Dr. Ricanek contends that human educators remain indispensable in higher education. He highlights the enduring importance of teaching critical thinking and skills, asserting that these qualities are beyond the reach of AI.
“We’ll never be replaced in higher ed. because we teach something called critical thinking, critical skills, and that’s always going to be important,” he said.
As the educational landscape undergoes a transformation, the emphasis on nurturing uniquely human capabilities remains a steadfast commitment in higher education.
