MY TEACHING JOURNEY – Page 9 – Critical Research Journal

The future is bright; the future is AI (and its successor)

In a thread elsewhere, someone assumed that I was concerned about the possibility of AI replacing university tutors.

I don’t have concerns about AI. It is changing the way we work. It has massively improved my efficiency in the last few years, initially in relatively mundane ways, then in more sophisticated ones. Now, it is a tool that I gladly engage with because it is making a vast difference to my productivity.

It is already ‘denting’ my professions, and I am confident that it will soon make many of the charlatans redundant. This is ultimately going to be good for the professions. Meanwhile, there are tools that I have not been able to make the most of, which other applications are creating space to embrace, and that is something I look forward to.

I recently had a tour of the department in Bristol where I was an undergraduate. When I was there we numbered about 40 students usually with one lecturer and one demonstrator for our laboratory sessions. Today they teach 120. Before a student is allowed into the lab each week, they sit an AI-generated multiple choice formative assessment based on pre-class reading. I have absolutely no doubt that the graduates know their subject and have skills that are far better than the rudimentary ones that most of my generation acquired.

I said that I don’t have concerns. That’s not quite true. Firstly, there are areas where I would like to see AI being applied more immediately (international diplomacy being an example). Secondly, rather selfishly, I hope that I shall continue to be able to embrace and benefit from AI (and its successors) until the day I die.

(pt2) What are the disadvantages of summative essays for a Level 4 assignment?

Summative essays, while a common method of assessment at Level 4 and beyond, have several disadvantages that can impact both the teaching process and students’ learning experiences. Understanding these drawbacks is crucial for educators to ensure they are providing a balanced and fair assessment strategy that supports all students’ learning needs. Here are some of the key disadvantages:

High Pressure

Stress: Summative essays place a significant amount of pressure on students, as they often carry a large portion of the course’s overall grade. This high stakes nature can induce anxiety and stress, which may not only affect performance but also the well-being of students.

Limited Scope of Assessment

Narrow Focus: Essays assess a relatively narrow range of skills, primarily writing and analytical skills. They may not fully capture a student’s understanding of the course material or their ability to apply knowledge in different contexts.
Potential Bias: The subjective nature of essay marking can introduce bias, as different markers may have varying interpretations of quality and criteria.

Feedback and Development

Delayed Feedback: Since summative essays are typically assessed at the end of a course, any feedback provided may come too late to be of practical use to students in their current learning journey.
Limited Opportunity for Improvement: With the assessment occurring at the course’s end, students have no opportunity to learn from their mistakes and improve within the same course context.

Learning Engagement

Encourages Surface Learning: Knowing that they will be assessed through an essay, students might focus on memorizing information rather than engaging deeply with the material to develop a thorough understanding.
Reduces Engagement: The prospect of a large, high-stakes essay can be daunting, potentially reducing motivation and engagement with the course material over time.

Practical Concerns

Time-Consuming for Both Students and Educators: Writing and grading essays is time-consuming. This can lead to delayed feedback for students and increased workload for educators, potentially affecting the quality of teaching and learning.
Accessibility Issues: Essays may disadvantage students who have difficulties with written expression, such as those with dyslexia or ESL (English as a Second Language) students, not accurately reflecting their understanding of the content.

While summative essays can be an effective way to assess certain skills and knowledge, these disadvantages highlight the importance of incorporating a variety of assessment methods. Diversifying assessments can provide a more comprehensive evaluation of student learning, reduce stress, and promote a deeper engagement with the course material.

[Written and illustrated with the help of ChatGPT 4 and Dall-e 2.]