Generative AI

This week’s scenario offered an important opportunity to reflect on the evolving challenges of designing high-quality online learning experiences, an area we have been actively developing at Kean University through our AI literacy workshops, instructional support initiatives, and faculty development programs. As we discussed in our group, integrating Generative AI into course design brings both exciting possibilities and understandable concerns, especially when it comes to assessment integrity.

Many participants shared their fear and uncertainty around using AI tools in teaching. This mirrors what we often hear from faculty at Kean: while they recognize AI’s potential to enhance learning, they worry about misuse, academic honesty, and the rapid pace of technological change. A central point we emphasized, and one that continues to guide our work, is that there are no reliable tools that can accurately detect AI-generated content. The consensus in the research community is clear: AI detection is not viable, and relying on it creates a false sense of control. Instead of spending energy searching for tools that do not work, we should shift our focus toward teaching students how to use AI responsibly, ethically, and transparently.

Through our training at Kean, we encourage faculty to approach AI as a pedagogical partner rather than a threat. This means redesigning assessments to emphasize process over product, integrating reflective checkpoints, oral components, authentic tasks, and opportunities for students to document how AI supported their thinking. We also emphasize a blended approach to online learning—leveraging both synchronous and asynchronous activities, to promote active learning, community building, and critical inquiry.

This week’s reflection reaffirmed that designing an online course is not simply a matter of choosing tools; it is about grounding our choices in strong pedagogy, clear learning outcomes, and an understanding of how students learn in digital spaces. Generative AI should not replace learning, it should deepen it. And as educators, our role is to guide students in becoming thoughtful, informed, and ethical users of emerging technologies.

Embracing AI in teaching requires courage, curiosity, and community. At Kean, we are building that community together, supporting faculty as they experiment, learn, and design courses that prepare students for the realities of a rapidly changing world.