A screen shot from our video about Curiously, in which Yipu Zheng demonstrates an AI powered teaching assistant.
By Debbie Beaudry, Director of Academic Technology
Worried your students might be letting AI do all the thinking for them? You’re not alone. With headlines like “AI Cheating Surge Pushes Schools” and “Everybody Is Cheating,” it’s easy to feel like we're facing a significant challenge in the classroom.
But when we asked our own graduate students how they’re using AI, a different narrative emerged. Their accounts were full of curiosity, creativity, and a drive to create something meaningful. They weren’t just letting AI passively generate content—they were teaming up with it, experimenting, and learning in ways that inspired us.
History of AI in Education Explorer
Doctoral student Blake Danzig is challenging the notion that AI is a new and sudden phenomenon with her interactive timeline, "History of AI in Education Explorer." This tool helps educators explore the multi-layered and intertwined histories of AI and education, moving beyond just a list of key points. By allowing users to "play with the history," the project aims to foster a more nuanced conversation about AI's long-term potential in the classroom.
Watch Blake Danzig describe her History of AI in Education Explorer project.
AI and Language Assessment
Soo Hyoung Joo, a doctoral student in the Applied Linguistics Program, is using AI to create more dynamic and engaging assessments. Her project, "Scenario-Based Language Assessment," immerses students in real-life scenarios with the help of an interactive AI character. This innovative approach allows students, particularly multilingual learners, to practice and demonstrate their language and collaborative skills in a contextually rich environment.
Watch to learn about a project on AI and Language Assessment from Soo Hyoung Joo.
Custom AI Teaching Assistants
Yipu Zheng, a recent graduate, has developed the "Curiously" app to empower educators. The platform allows teachers to create custom AI learning companions trained on their own class materials. This unique tool supports "three-way conversations between educators, learners, and the AI" and is designed to spark curiosity and promote deeper learning.
Watch to learn about Curiously, an app using AI for custom tutoring developed by Yipu Zheng.
The projects from our students demonstrate that AI has the potential to be a valuable resource for education. Their work invites instructors and students alike to not only develop the critical skills needed to use these tools responsibly but also to consider the creative possibilities of these tools. By fostering a mindset that is both aware of challenges and open to new opportunities, we can help students learn to effectively and thoughtfully engage with AI.
My Process with AI: Summarized
The process I used to write this article started with writing a rough draft in Google Docs. Then, I pasted it into ChatGPT with a prompt asking the AI to help organize and clarify the content. I copied the text of the transcripts off all three videos into Gemini and asked it to summarize each video. I took the AI versions into Google Docs, made my edits, and copied them to ChatGPT again for further refinement. Throughout, I iterated between the Gemini and ChatGPT and my draft, along with input from my team.
Disclaimer: The applications and their respective companies shared in this article have not been vetted or endorsed by Teachers College. Teachers College does not assume any responsibility for the accessibility, privacy, or security of these applications. The usage of these applications is at the sole discretion of the user, and Teachers College disclaims any legal liability associated with their usage. It is the responsibility of the users to conduct their own research and adhere to applicable laws, regulations, and best practices when incorporating these applications into their educational activities.