Cracking Down on "Plag-AI-rism": Revitalizing Learning in Asynchronous Education

With the advent of advanced AI technologies, the landscape of distance learning, especially in asynchronous environments, is significantly transforming. The rise of AI-assisted writing in student assignments and discussion boards, a phenomenon I call "Plag-AI-rism," poses a severe challenge to the authenticity and quality of learning.

The Challenge of AI in Education

The proliferation of AI tools has made it incredibly easy for students to generate essays and reports and participate in discussion forums without genuinely engaging with the material. This undermines the educational process and robs students of critical thinking and learning opportunities. As educators, it's our responsibility to ensure that the essence of learning is preserved and that students genuinely absorb and understand the material.

Introducing 1:1 Live Checkpoints

Huntington Junior College is implementing 1:1 Live Checkpoints in response to this challenge. These live interactive sessions between students and educators assess and reinforce genuine understanding.

How It Works

• Regular Interaction: Periodic live sessions are scheduled for direct student-educator discussions.
• SLO-centric: Conversations focus on student learning outcomes (SLOs), ensuring a consistent and objective assessment across all students. These sessions are more than verbal quizzes; they are formative and summative assessments tailored to individual student needs. Educators are guides, facilitating learning rather than being the sole content source.
• Authenticity Assessment: These sessions verify students' learning authenticity and understanding.
• Feedback and Support: Personalized feedback helps students address weaknesses and build on strengths.

Authentic Assessments as Checkpoints

Authentic assessments can be broken into incremental components:

1. A brief on three thesis statements: Students choose and support their statements, explaining their preference and rationale.
2. An outline reflecting feedback on the thesis statement.
3. Draft iterations demonstrating improvement based on feedback.

Incorporating AI into Assignments

Plan assignments that involve AI:

• Debates with an AI platform on specific topics, with the exchange as a deliverable.
• We are evaluating and critiquing literature reviews produced by language-based AI systems.

The Power of Synchronous Engagement

Integrating synchronous elements into asynchronous environments deters Plag-AI-rism and re-establishes human connection in education. It encourages active learning, critical thinking, and communication skills development.

Moving Forward

By implementing these strategies, we're not just combating Plag-AI-rism but enriching the educational journey. We're preparing our students for a world where adaptability, critical thinking, and interpersonal skills are paramount. Hybridity measures, like short-term residencies, will further enhance this approach. I'll talk about those in a future article.

Let's embrace the Plag-AI-rism challenge and turn it into an opportunity to H&H (humanize and hybridize) the future of distance education.

Dr. Kiko Suarez

Chief Academic Officer

HJC.edu