Over the years, higher education has faced numerous disruptors that have reshaped the industry. From the Industrial Revolution to economic recessions and the COVID-19 pandemic, these transformative events forced educators to rethink how they deliver course content. These shifts, whether due to financial constraints or societal changes, compelled innovation in teaching and learning. While each disruptor has left its mark, artificial intelligence (AI) has emerged as one of the most significant challenges—and opportunities—in the history of education.

Introduced in late November 2022, ChatGPT (Chat Generated Pre-Trained Transformer) has ignited debates across academia. Some fear its potential to undermine learning, while others see it as a powerful tool to enhance education. Regardless of your perspective, one thing is clear: AI is here to stay, and ChatGPT is just the beginning.

🤖 How AI Has Evolved

The World Economic Forum predicted that AI will have created approximately 97 million jobs by 2025 (World Economic Forum, 2020), making it crucial for educators to prepare students for an AI-driven world. Instead of fearing misuse, educators must embrace the challenge of creating “AI-proof” courses that encourage authentic learning while leveraging the benefits of this transformative technology.

AI has a place in education—just as other technologies have before it. However, human creativity, critical thinking, and empathy remain unmatched by machines. As David Brooks aptly put it in his New York Times article,

“A.I. will force us humans to double down on those talents and skills that only humans possess. The most important thing about A.I. may be that it shows us what it can’t do, and so reveals who we are and what we have to offer” (Brooks, 2023).

Simply blocking AI tools like ChatGPT is neither feasible nor productive. Instead, educators must design courses that foster deep learning, creativity, and critical thinking—skills that AI cannot replicate. Here are practical strategies to AI-proof your online courses while preparing students for a world where AI plays a significant role.

Get to Know Your Students and Their Writing Styles

Start your course with a personal, creative writing assignment that cannot be easily completed using AI. For instance, ask students to introduce themselves by describing a recent experience that brought them joy, fulfillment, or growth. Alternatively, have them share a professional or personal challenge and how they overcame it. These prompts require introspection and personal narrative, making it difficult for AI to generate authentic responses.

Additionally, consider assigning introductory video submissions. Students often express themselves verbally in ways that mirror their writing style. These videos provide valuable insights into their unique voices, creating a “writing map” that helps identify inconsistencies in future assignments.

Diversify Assessment Methods

AI excels at generating essays, outlines, and other written content. To counter this, educators should move beyond traditional writing assignments and incorporate diverse assessment methods.

Focus on activities that require problem-solving, critical thinking, and situational awareness. For example:

• Case Studies: Present students with real-world scenarios and ask them to develop solutions, analyzing contributing factors and evaluating outcomes (Kolb, 1984).
• Presentations: Encourage students to build public speaking skills through live or recorded presentations. While AI can assist in preparation, it cannot replace the human element of delivery. And in this virtual world, almost every profession requires presentation via videoconference!
• Collaborative Projects: Assign group activities that require teamwork and collective problem-solving. Collaboration is a skill AI cannot mimic, and it fosters interpersonal growth.

By challenging students to engage in these multifaceted activities, you’re fostering skills that extend beyond rote memorization and regurgitation—skills that AI cannot easily replicate.

Emphasize Research and Citation Skills

While AI tools are improving in their ability to cite sources, their references are often inaccurate, incomplete, or fabricated. Insisting on well-documented research and proper citation practices can help mitigate over-reliance on AI. Encourage students to:

• Evaluate sources for credibility and relevance (Purdue OWL, 2023).
• Cross-reference information to ensure accuracy.
• Use AI responsibly as a starting point, but verify and expand upon its outputs with their own research.

This approach not only reduces dependency on AI but also strengthens students’ information literacy skills—a critical competency in today’s information-rich world.

Teach Responsible AI Use

AI is a tool, not a replacement for human creativity and critical thinking. Educators should guide students in using AI ethically and responsibly. For example:

• Grammar and Writing Assistance: Demonstrate how AI can help with grammar, sentence structure, and punctuation without replacing their voice.
• Brainstorming Ideas: Encourage students to use AI as a brainstorming tool, helping them explore new perspectives or overcome writer’s block.
• Critical Evaluation: Teach students to critically assess AI-generated content for accuracy, relevance, and bias (Bender et al., 2021).

Introduce frameworks like the SPACE (Scope, Process, Analysis, Collaboration, and Ethics) model to help students combine human ingenuity with AI’s capabilities. By teaching students to collaborate with AI rather than depend on it, you’re equipping them with skills for the future.

Foster Open Dialogue About AI

Transparency is key to building trust and understanding. Clearly communicate your expectations regarding AI use in your course, and invite students to share their thoughts and questions. By creating an open dialogue, you normalize the responsible use of AI and reduce the likelihood of misuse.

Consider including an AI usage policy in your syllabus that outlines acceptable uses and potential consequences for violations. This proactive approach sets clear boundaries while fostering a culture of accountability and respect.

Encourage Creativity and Unpredictability

AI thrives on predictability and patterns, so disrupt the norm by incorporating creative and unconventional assignments. For instance:

• Ask students to connect unrelated concepts and create something entirely new.
• Assign projects that require visual, artistic, or multimedia elements.
• Encourage exploratory learning by allowing students to pursue topics that genuinely interest them.

David Brooks suggests:

“A.I. is good at predicting what word should come next, so you want to be really good at being unpredictable, departing from the conventional.”

Creativity and originality are inherently human traits—leverage them to keep your coursework engaging and challenging.

Conclusion

AI is undeniably one of the most significant disruptors in higher education, but it also offers immense potential for growth and innovation. As educators, our role is not to fear AI but to adapt to its presence, ensuring that students learn to navigate this new landscape responsibly and effectively.

By incorporating strategies like personalized assessments, diverse evaluation methods, and open discussions about AI, we can create courses that foster authentic learning while embracing the benefits of emerging technologies. Let’s empower students to show us who they are—and what AI isn’t.

What are your thoughts on AI in education? Have you found innovative ways to incorporate or mitigate AI’s influence in your courses? Share your insights in the comments below or connect with me to discuss best practices for AI-proofing online courses!