What Should Faculty and Students Know About AI?

Artificial intelligence (AI) has the potential to revolutionize healthcare and, thus, healthcare education with its increasing adoption in healthcare practices and technological innovations. In education, AI has the potential to provide personalized learning experiences and democratized access to education. However, integrating AI into health professions education raises concerns about ethics, rote and meaningful learning, quality, equity, and privacy.  

In discussions with our HPEd students and academic colleagues about AI in teaching and learning, we seem to be having the same conversation as new members jump into our conversation around student use of AI. This blog series aims to capture the conversational evolution of this topic in hopes that, upon reading it, our future conversations can build upon prior conversations.

What should faculty know about AI?

As AI increasingly influences various industries and academia, it is essential for faculty members to understand its capabilities, applications, and ethical implications to guide students effectively. Faculty who grasp the fundamentals of AI, including machine learning, neural networks, and natural language processing, can best appreciate how it’s transforming education and their disciplines.

AI offers powerful educational tools, such as personalized learning platforms that adapt to student needs and AI-driven systems that automate administrative tasks like grading and tracking student progress. Faculty can use these technologies to enhance instruction and reduce workloads but must remain aware of their limitations and ensure human judgment is involved when necessary.

Ethical considerations are crucial for faculty to understand as well. AI raises concerns about bias, privacy, and job displacement. Educators must be able to guide students through the ethical challenges of AI, ensuring that they are not only proficient in using these tools but also aware of the potential societal consequences. For example, biased algorithms can reinforce inequality, and faculty should lead discussions on these issues while advocating for privacy protections for student data.

Educators should consider their own integrity. If an educator uses AI to develop material or in any way in the creation of their learning content, this is an opportunity to disclose its use and open the door for student use.

Teaching AI presents challenges. AI evolves rapidly, making it difficult to keep curricula up-to-date. Faculty must continually educate themselves to stay current. Moreover, AI courses often require specialized software, hardware, and trained educators, which can be resource-intensive and create barriers for institutions with limited funding.

Looking ahead, faculty should prepare for AI to play a larger role in education and society. They need to foster a culture of staying abreast of AI developments, critical thinking around AI, helping students understand not just its technical aspects but also its broader ethical and social implications. By doing so, they ensure students are equipped to navigate the future responsibly. While AI will take over some educational tasks, the role of human educators in fostering creativity, critical thinking, and emotional intelligence remains irreplaceable. Faculty who embrace AI as a tool rather than a competitor will be better positioned to guide students in an AI-driven world.

What should students know about AI?

As artificial intelligence (AI) continues to permeate various aspects of society, it is crucial for students to understand its fundamental concepts, applications, and implications. This knowledge not only equips them for future careers but also prepares them to navigate a world increasingly shaped by AI technologies.

Students should grasp the basics of what AI is and how it works. AI encompasses a range of technologies designed to simulate human intelligence, including machine learning, natural language processing, and robotics. Understanding these foundational elements allows students to appreciate how AI systems learn from data, make predictions, and perform tasks that traditionally require human input. Familiarity with terms such as algorithms and neural networks, will enable students to engage critically with the technology.

Students should also be aware of the diverse applications of AI across various fields. From healthcare, where AI assists in diagnostics and treatment planning, to finance, where it enhances risk assessment and fraud detection, AI is transforming industries. In education, AI-driven tools personalize learning experiences by adapting to individual student needs. By recognizing these applications, students can envision how AI may impact their chosen career paths and the broader workforce.

Ethical considerations surrounding AI are another critical area of knowledge. As AI systems are deployed, ethical dilemmas arise regarding bias, privacy, and accountability. For instance, biased algorithms can perpetuate inequalities, while the collection of personal data raises significant privacy concerns. Students should be educated on the importance of ethical AI use, understanding the societal implications of technology and advocating for responsible practices. This awareness will help them contribute to a more equitable and just use of AI in their future careers.

Moreover, students must develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills relevant to AI. As they learn to interact with AI technologies, they should question the outputs generated by these systems and evaluate their reliability. This skill set is vital, as AI is not infallible; its recommendations can sometimes be misleading or inaccurate. Encouraging a critical approach empowers students to make informed decisions and use AI responsibly.

Acquisition of basic concepts, applications, ethical implications, and the importance of critical thinking will not only prepare students for future careers but also empower them to engage thoughtfully with AI technologies as responsible citizens in a rapidly evolving world. As AI continues to shape the future, being informed and proactive will be crucial for success and ethical participation in society.

AI has the potential to transform healthcare education by providing personalized, accessible, and effective learning experiences. However, it is essential to address the potential risks and challenges associated with AI integration. By developing ethical guidelines, ensuring human oversight, and continuously evaluating AI systems, we can harness AI's benefits while mitigating its risks.