Humanities professors innovate with AI, prioritize human connection

Humanities professors lead the way to intentionally reimagine "how, when and where" they teach WITH A.I and support critical thinking: "to make sure that their students were actually learning the material and that it meant something to them." Jessica Grose in The New York Times ( gift 🔗 in comments) showcases some of the over 100 innovative examples professors have shared with her as they move: From: Lectures, reading and take-home papers. To: "Revitalizing the experience of humanities for the 21-century students" through more oral examinations, one-on-one discussions, community engagement and in-class projects. Inspiring examples of this more interactive model based on real-time learning experiences, human connection and practical application of knowledge include: 💡 Involving the Community Philosophy class at Utah Valley University: They partnered with a local residential treatment facility for teenagers. Ethics students taught philosophical concepts to the teens and led ethical debates with them as their final project. English class at Beloit College: The professor designed a science fiction class around Ursula Le Guin's "The Dispossessed" where students had to lead discussions about the novel at libraries, public schools, and senior centers. Students practiced and role-played before these community events, then reflected on their experiences and new skills. 💡 Co-Creating the Model WITH the Students Rather than impose blanket AI bans, students were involved in creating their own codes of conduct. They collectively decided they could use AI to survey existing scholarship but wouldn't use it to generate text for their written assignments. 💡 CHOOSING to Do the "Work" Over AI Another professor experimented with allowing complete AI use among students, and found many preferred traditional methods due to concerns about losing fundamental skills like reading comprehension and proper writing mechanics. I agree with Grose, "listening to the way these professors are adapting to an A.I.-powered world made me wonder if this ingenuity is overdue." Disruption doesn't have to equal doom. It can actually spark change in the way we work and, in this case, learn for the better, as long as what makes us "human" remains at the center. Go Humanities! #reimaginework #flexiblework #intentionalwork #AI #reimagine