USE OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE IN ACADEMIA
USE OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE IN ACADEMIA
- A DIVE INTO THE FUTURE OF STUDYING
Artificial intelligence (AI) is reshaping the everyday student life and future of students around the world. Senior Advisor for the Learning Center at NMBU, Niklas Pettersen Mintorovitch, shares his thoughts on how AI can impact academia and how NMBU is adapting to this technological revolution.
Journalist: Marie Tjelta
Illustratør: Kunstig Intelligens
Translator: Knut Sørbø
More than text generation
AI has already taken over many aspects of our lives, yet what exactly is it? Mintorovitch explains that AI is a new universal technology that controls many other technologies and affects large parts of our everyday lives. AI is already being used as a diagnostic tool to detect cancer, map new potential protein structures and pathogens, and is being used in research at the highest levels. He believes that we need to start looking at AI differently and understand its potential beyond the generation of text and images.
Using AI in exams
Using AI as part of student life, including during exams and assignments, Mintorovitch explains, is a complex issue. If AI is to be used in exams, the form of assessment must be changed to ensure that the learning outcomes are met. He notes that current standards are not adapted to AI technology and that adjustments need to be made to allow students to utilize AI effectively.
When it comes to exam formats, Mintorovitch is open to integrating the use of AI, but it requires an adaptation of what is being tested. This could involve solving more complex problems, placing more emphasis on oral forms of assessment, increasing the level of difficulty, and including how AI has been used in the method section. However, he emphasizes that this assumes that the students have sufficient knowledge of AI, which can also create new problems. “It will be an educational experiment where we have to test what works and what doesn’t.
Which AI services does NMBU recommend?
So why does NMBU recommend the use of AI services such as SIKT and Copilot? According to Mintorovitch, it’s all about data protection and GDPR. The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) is the EU’s regulatory framework for protecting personal data. These services store data within the EU, which is crucial to ensure that user data is processed in a secure and responsible manner and meets EU standards. Furthermore, Copilot is integrated into Microsoft’s software packages, with which NMBU already has an agreement. This gives students access to powerful AI platforms that are secure and GDPR-friendly.
The plagiarism dilemma
When it comes to plagiarism, Mintorovitch admits that it can be challenging to determine whether text written with AI qualifies as plagiarism. There is talk of AI check programs that can track AI-generated content in a text. At present, NMBU do not have such software, nor are they interested in it. He explains that they do not see the benefit if they are to encourage students to use AI. “AI is becoming a bigger and bigger part of everyday life. It’s more about integrating the use of AI into studies in a sensible way,” he points out.
“The most important thing is to focus on designing learning activities that take into account broader societal developments and include the use of AI as a tool, rather than viewing AI as a threat,” the senior advisor continues. No one knows what it will look like to write a text in two years’ time. Suddenly, AI has been integrated into writing programs and you write together with AI, so the end result will be a mixture rather than plagiarism or something that is 100% written by you. He emphasizes that it is important that students learn how to use AI correctly and that they understand how it can affect learning outcomes.
Ensuring high quality education
Mintorovitch encourages NMBU to maintain an open dialog with students and be responsive to their concerns and questions. He emphasizes the importance of ensuring a high-quality education that leads to solid learning outcomes. It is a balancing act between equipping students with relevant skills, including AI, and ensuring that they don’t just “breeze through an education” without acquiring the necessary knowledge. NMBU’s goal is to prepare students for a future working life that is likely to be influenced by AI, and this requires a conscious effort to safeguard learning outcomes.
This article was written with the help of the KI service SIKT.
