‘We Could Have Asked ChatGPT’: Students Fight Back Over Course Taught by AI


A digital illustration of a group of diverse students standing in a classroom, looking frustrated and pointing towards an empty podium where a holographic projection of a generic AI avatar is visible. The text "WE COULD HAVE ASKED CHATGPT" is superimposed above the students. Image (and typos) generated by Nano Banana.
The revolt against automation: Capturing the frustration of students pushing back against educational institutions that rely on AI to replace human instructors. Image (and typos) generated by Nano Banana.

Source

The Guardian

Summary

Students on a coding apprenticeship at the University of Staffordshire say they were “robbed of knowledge” after discovering that large portions of their course materials—including slides, assignments and even voiceovers—were generated by AI. Despite university policies restricting students’ use of AI, staff appeared to rely heavily on AI-generated teaching content, leading to accusations of hypocrisy and declining trust in the programme. Students reported inconsistent editing, generic content and bizarre glitches such as a mid-video switch to a Spanish accent. Complaints brought little change, and although human lecturers delivered the final session, students argue the damage to their learning and career prospects has already been done. The case highlights rising tensions as universities increasingly adopt AI tools without transparent standards or safeguards.

Key Points

  • Staffordshire students discovered widespread use of AI-generated slides, tasks and videos.
  • AI usage contradicted strict policies prohibiting students from submitting AI-generated work.
  • Students reported generic content, inconsistent editing and AI voiceover glitches.
  • Repeated complaints yielded limited response; a human lecturer was added only at the end.
  • Students fear lost learning, reduced programme credibility and wasted time.

Keywords

URL

https://www.theguardian.com/education/2025/nov/20/university-of-staffordshire-course-taught-in-large-part-by-ai-artificial-intelligence

Summary generated by ChatGPT 5


Universities Race to Rewrite Curricula for a World Remade by AI


A high-speed, dynamic visual of a traditional university blueprint or parchment being rapidly overwritten by glowing green and blue AI code, circuit lines, and data streams, symbolizing the frantic pace of curricular redesign in the face of new technology. Image (and typos) generated by Nano Banana.
The educational overhaul: Universities are in a frantic race to adapt their curricula, ensuring their students are equipped for a job market and world fundamentally reshaped by artificial intelligence. Image (and typos) generated by Nano Banana.

Source

ScienceBlog – NeuroEdge

Summary

A new study in Frontiers of Digital Education argues that higher education must fundamentally redesign curricula to keep pace with rapid AI advancement. Led by researchers at Lanzhou Petrochemical University of Vocational Technology, the paper warns that traditional curriculum cycles are too slow for a world where generative AI is already standard in workplaces. It proposes a comprehensive framework built on AI literacy, ethical use, interdisciplinary integration and continuous updating. The authors emphasise a tiered model of AI learning—from core literacy for all students to advanced training for specialists—and call for modular course design, industry partnerships and cultural change within universities. Without sweeping reform, they argue, institutions risk preparing students for a world that no longer exists.

Key Points

  • AI is reshaping what and how universities must teach, creating urgency for reform.
  • Study identifies AI literacy as essential for every student, regardless of discipline.
  • Recommends a tiered AI curriculum: foundational, applied and specialist levels.
  • Calls for modular, continuously updated courses aligned with fast-moving AI developments.
  • Argues for cultural change: interdisciplinary collaboration, new assessment models and faculty training.

Keywords

URL

https://scienceblog.com/neuroedge/2025/11/15/universities-race-to-rewrite-curricula-for-a-world-remade-by-ai/

Summary generated by ChatGPT 5


Outsourced Thinking? Experts Consider AI’s Impact on Our Brains


A stylized, conceptual image showing a human head in profile with glowing digital lines extending from the brain area towards a floating, interconnected mesh of AI circuitry, symbolizing the outsourcing of thought processes. A question mark hangs over the point of connection. Image (and typos) generated by Nano Banana.
The cognitive shift: Experts are weighing the potential impact of AI reliance—is it a tool for enhancement, or are we outsourcing the very processes that keep our brains sharp? Image (and typos) generated by Nano Banana.

Source

RTÉ Prime Time

Summary

RTÉ explores emerging concerns about how widespread AI use may alter human cognition. With almost 800 million ChatGPT users globally and Ireland among the world’s heaviest users, scientists warn that convenience may carry hidden cognitive costs. An MIT study using brain-imaging found reduced neural activity when participants relied on ChatGPT, suggesting diminished critical evaluation. Irish neuroscientist Paul Dockree cautions that outsourcing tasks like writing and problem-solving could erode core cognitive skills, similar to over-dependency on GPS. Others draw parallels with aviation, where automation has weakened pilots’ manual skills. While some users praise AI’s benefits, experts warn of a potential “two-tier society” of empowered critical thinkers and those who grow dependent on automated reasoning.

Key Points

  • AI adoption is extremely rapid; Ireland has one of the highest global usage rates.
  • MIT research indicates reduced brain activity when using ChatGPT for problem-solving.
  • Cognitive scientists warn of long-term skill decline if AI replaces active thinking.
  • Automation parallels in aviation show how skills can erode without practice.
  • Public reactions are mixed, reflecting broader uncertainty about AI’s cognitive impact.

Keywords

URL

https://www.rte.ie/news/primetime/2025/1111/1543356-outsourced-thinking-experts-consider-ais-impact-on-our-brains/

Summary generated by ChatGPT 5


We Asked Teachers About Their Experiences With AI in the Classroom — Here’s What They Said


A digital illustration showing a diverse group of teachers sitting around a conference table in a modern classroom, each holding a speech bubble or screen displaying various short, contrasting statements about AI, such as "HELPFUL TOOL," "CHEAT DETECTOR," and "TIME SINK." Image (and typos) generated by Nano Banana.
Diverse perspectives on the digital frontier: Capturing the wide range of experiences and opinions shared by educators as they navigate the benefits and challenges of integrating AI into their classrooms. Image (and typos) generated by Nano Banana.

Source

The Conversation

Summary

Researcher Nadia Delanoy interviewed ten Canadian teachers to explore how generative AI is reshaping K–12 classrooms. The teachers, spanning grades 5–12 across multiple provinces, described mounting pressures to adapt amid ethical uncertainty and emotional strain. Common concerns included the fragility of traditional assessment, inequitable access to AI tools, and rising workloads compounded by inadequate policy support. Many expressed fear that AI could erode the artistry and relational nature of teaching, turning it into a compliance exercise. While acknowledging AI’s potential to enhance workflow, teachers emphasised the need for slower, teacher-led, and ethically grounded implementation that centres humanity and professional judgment.

Key Points

  • Teachers report anxiety over authenticity and fairness in assessment.
  • Equity gaps widen as some students have greater AI access than others.
  • Educators feel policies treat them as implementers, not professionals.
  • AI integration adds to burnout, threatening teacher autonomy.
  • Responsible policy must involve teachers, ethics, and slower adoption.

Keywords

URL

https://theconversation.com/we-asked-teachers-about-their-experiences-with-ai-in-the-classroom-heres-what-they-said-265241

Summary generated by ChatGPT 5


A Way to Save the Essay


A stylized visual showing a classic, handwritten essay page being protected by a glowing, modern digital shield or frame, symbolizing the integration of new methods to preserve the integrity of traditional writing assignments against AI interference. Image (and typos) generated by Nano Banana.
Rescuing the written word: Exploring innovative teaching and assessment strategies designed to preserve the value and necessity of the traditional essay in the age of generative AI. Image (and typos) generated by Nano Banana.

Source

Inside Higher Ed

Summary

Philosophy instructor Lily Abadal argues that the traditional take-home essay has long been failing as a measure of critical thinking—an issue made undeniable by the rise of generative AI. Instead of abandoning essays altogether, she advocates for “slow-thinking pedagogy”: a semester-long, structured, in-class writing process that replaces rushed, last-minute submissions with deliberate research, annotation, outlining, drafting and revision. Her scaffolded model prioritises depth over content coverage and cultivates intellectual virtues such as patience, humility and resilience. Abadal contends that meaningful writing requires time, struggle and independence—conditions incompatible with AI shortcuts—and calls for designated AI-free spaces where students can practise genuine thinking and writing.

Key Points

  • Traditional take-home essays often reward superficial synthesis rather than deep reasoning.
  • AI exposes existing weaknesses by enabling polished but shallow student work.
  • “Slow-thinking pedagogy” uses structured, in-class writing to rebuild genuine engagement.
  • Scaffolded steps—research, annotation, thesis development, outlining, drafting—promote real understanding.
  • Protecting AI-free spaces supports intellectual virtues essential for authentic learning.

Keywords

URL

https://www.insidehighered.com/opinion/career-advice/teaching/2025/11/07/way-save-essay-opinion

Summary generated by ChatGPT 5