Margaret Poncin Reeves: Using AI to Enhance, Not Replace, Critical Thinking in the Classroom

Margaret Poncin Reeves (Senior Professional Lecturer, Writing, Rhetoric and Discourse) presented “Promoting Critical AI Literacy through Reflection” at the AI in Teaching Symposium, May 31, 2024.

Since the release of ChatGPT in November 2022, there has been growing concern among educators that students are using Generative AI as a substitute for critical thinking. However, as Reeves argues, AI can be used to maintain and even enhance critical thinking skills. The key is to implement AI in a thoughtful and deliberate way.

Reeves recommends a critical AI literacy framework, which encompasses:

  • Considering the societal and economic impacts of AI development: This includes acknowledging issues such as data scraping without attribution or payment and the potential impact of AI on jobs.
  • Critically evaluating AI limitations: This involves identifying instances where AI may hallucinate, perpetuate bias, or hinder student creativity and voice.
  • Becoming literate in AI: To effectively critique AI, users need to understand how it works, experiment with tools like prompt engineering, and learn how to integrate these tools into their workflows.

Integrating Critical AI Literacy into the Classroom

Reeves integrates critical AI literacy into her writing courses by:

  • Allowing students to use AI tools for various compositions: This could include research papers, social media artifacts, or videos.
  • Requiring students to write reflections without AI assistance: These reflections focus on their experience using AI for the assignment.
  • Providing feedback on both the AI-created work and the reflection: This iterative process helps students learn from their experiences and refine their approach to using AI.

Reflection Prompts for Critical AI Literacy

Reeves suggests several reflection prompts for students, focusing on:

  • Process: Encourage students to reflect on the choices they made while using AI. Did they simply copy and paste the assignment prompt, or did they engage in prompt engineering? Did they revise the AI output? This reflection helps students understand the importance of actively engaging with AI tools rather than passively accepting their output.
  • Learning: Prompt students to consider the extent to which the AI-generated work reflects their own thinking and ideas. Is it their intellectual property or the property of the AI company? What did they gain and lose by using AI for the assignment? These questions encourage students to take ownership of their learning and critically assess the role of AI in their work.
  • Course Concepts: Ask students to connect their AI-assisted creations to course concepts, lectures, readings, and discussions. This helps them apply theoretical knowledge to practical applications and demonstrate a deeper understanding of the material.

Benefits of Critical AI Literacy

Through the process of using AI, reflecting on its use, and receiving feedback, students develop a more nuanced understanding of AI’s potential and limitations. They become more critical of AI output, engage in more prompt engineering and revision, and gain confidence in their abilities as writers and thinkers. Ultimately, this approach demonstrates that students can utilize AI as a tool for learning while simultaneously enhancing their critical thinking skills.