Instructional Designers need to stay current with technology available to them to develop courses and curriculum. We are all hearing about the Artificial Intelligence (AI)/ChatGPT “buzz”. It’s in the media, on our social media feeds and a conversation deans are having with faculty. But what about instructional design? Where does it fit in and how can instructional designers assess students in the age of AI, while not ignoring its existence?
AI has many incredible uses, but some students have been using it as the latest shortcut to avoid doing their coursework on their own. This has prompted a rethinking of the design of assessments and projects as instructional designers. These revised assessments have the potential to be more robust and relevant than their predecessors. Some of these assessment methods leverage the capabilities of AI, while others promote learning in ways that are not as easily replicated by AI. Students will need to explore and use new technologies in their careers, as well as deal with rapidly evolving sources of information. There are several approaches that instructional designers can use to improve assessment techniques while also improving students’ understanding of course content and information sources.
Focus on the Process
Instructional designers may help faculty look at the way assessments and projects are designed in the online courseroom. Assessments and projects have traditionally focused on an end product that is submitted to the instructor, such as a written paper or a presentation. When the project is broken into smaller chunks, each part can be assessed and checked before moving onto the next part, and misunderstandings can be redirected before proceeding further. For a written assignment, this might consist of the submission of drafts and rewrites. For an art project, this might include several sketches of an idea before proceeding to the next step. A student might be asked for an explanation of how they broke down the problem, or for justification of how their project was designed. Including the process as part of the assessment can help to prevent possible shortcuts to the end product, build a deeper understanding, and create a stronger end product.
Authentic Assessments
An authentic assessment requires students to apply what they have learned to complete a real-world task or scenario. This can involve innovation, judgment, and the replication of contexts that would occur in “real life.” These authentic assessments can include the opportunity to collaborate and reflect, and can require students to define subtasks to complete the project. Authentic assessments often have the advantage of being more interesting and motivating for students, and can provide more specific information about what the student has or has not succeeded in learning. They can be more labor intensive to create and grade, and will benefit from the use of a detailed grading rubric. Examples of authentic assessments could include creating a portfolio of work, preparing for a performance or exhibition, or designing a solution to a real-world problem.
Don’t Avoid AI!
AI is being used increasingly in diverse sectors, including finance, healthcare, and national security, so guiding students to explore the proper use of AI can help to prepare them for future careers. Students can assess the validity of information from AI, explore the strengths and weaknesses of AI texts, or use AI to write an outline or brainstorm ideas. They can be challenged by uncovering the inaccuracies and biases in the output created by AI, and compare their own work to AI generated responses. They can learn how different prompts can generate stronger responses, and learn how to write effective prompts for a multitude of purposes. Transparency about expectations for AI use is key – a statement in the course syllabus about what AI use is allowed (and not allowed) should be included so that students know the expectations from the start. While emphasizing academic honesty, the benefits of AI can also be highlighted and reinforced throughout the course.
What’s Next?
Rather than focusing solely on the potential for the misuse of AI, instructional designers can incorporate the capabilities of AI into assessments and create more robust, authentic assessments. These assessments can benefit students and give instructors better information about student learning. Outlining clear expectations and encouraging responsible use of AI by students will not only save frustration for both students and educators, but will ultimately benefit students who will likely be using these tools in their careers. AI is a learning tool that can help students outline, brainstorm, revise, study, reflect, and more. It is an evolving tool, not without its flaws, so teaching students to spot and counteract any limitations in AI output not only strengthens their critical thinking skills, but will also improve their understanding of AI as an evolving source of information.
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