Dordt College Engages with AI’s Transformative Potential in Education

Dordt College faculty and alumni are exploring the implications of artificial intelligence on education, creativity, and community. Through integrating AI into classrooms and developing policies, educators aim to harness its potential while addressing ethical challenges. Dordt’s focused approach seeks to equip students with the skills needed to navigate an increasingly AI-centric world.

Artificial intelligence, or AI, it’s not just a buzzword anymore — it’s reshaping our daily experience. At Dordt College, faculty and alumni are diving deep into its implications, hoping to illuminate both its potential and challenges. The conversations around AI have sparked a diverse set of ideas on how it can be harnessed for good, highlighting both its risks and the incredible advantages it offers to educators and students alike.

Dr. Leah Zuidema, vice president for academic affairs, emphasizes how deeply AI will alter various aspects of life for students, saying, “While students are here at Dordt and also for all their lives afterward, AI will radically change their work, their communities, their family lives, their churches, and perhaps even their understanding of themselves and what it means to be human.”

On campus, faculty members are already trying to weave AI discussions into their classrooms. Dr. Dave Mulder, a professor of education, is tackling this head-on in his tech and education course. He points out that while AI brings challenges, many of those challenges have been around for ages. “At this point, I think that some of the most significant challenges surrounding AI are not technical problems, but rather human problems.”

Mulder goes on to explain the concern many educators have regarding cheating, calling it “an old, human problem” amplified by new technology. Importantly, he believes that AI also has immense potential to enhance education, saying, “There are ethical, responsible ways that teachers can use generative AI to help reduce the time spent on some tasks.” For instance, thanks to AI, creating a rubric, which used to take him an hour, can now be accomplished in seconds.

But it’s not all about streamlining tasks – Mulder insists that teachers should remain engaged in the creative process. “There is a temptation for us to outsource the creative work to the machines,” he reflects, noting the satisfaction that comes from putting real human effort into teaching. He believes these tools can help students deepen their creativity and problem-solving skills.

Moreover, Nathan De Groot, a Dordt alum now working at Central Valley Christian School in California, echoes this sentiment. His school has crafted an AI policy aligned with their mission of inspiring hearts and minds. De Groot emphasizes the importance of ongoing coaching rather than simple training, which helps educators effectively use AI in their teaching practices. “Having an individual help identify areas of improvement… has a greater effect” than just a training session, he says.

With the right guidance, students at CVC are encouraged to view themselves as creative individuals. De Groot points out that sometimes a lack of recognition stifles creativity. “The right tools, including technology and AI, can help students reframe their understanding of creativity.” However, he warns about the danger of relying too heavily on technology, striving to be a support system rather than a replacement for traditional learning.

In the classroom and beyond, Dordt professors like Dr. Tom Prinsen are faithfully preparing students for an AI-rich world. Prinsen says AI has raised productivity expectations across the board. Students are challenged to use AI in a responsible way while remembering to use their unique voices and experiences in storytelling. “Then we can use AI to give us feedback instead of it generating ideas for us,” he explains.

Some Dordt alumni are already forging paths in the tech world, like Roland Osae-Oppong, who works as a Global Media Strategist at Salesforce. His experience highlights the practical advantages of AI in data collection and analytics, though he acknowledges the risks posed by ethical concerns. He states, “At the end of the day, AI’s output is only as good as the input we give it.” Osae-Oppong reinforces the vital role of human oversight in understanding potential biases in AI.

Meanwhile, Dr. Tim Klein is spearheading an AI task force at Dordt that’s developing a framework to ensure AI benefits students and faculty alike, rather than simply enhancing efficiency. The task force focuses on strengthening community relationships while keeping faith at the forefront of technological integration. This framework aims to guide both present and future interactions with AI in a meaningful way.

Overall, Dordt is setting the stage for thoughtful engagement with AI, blending technology with core values. As students and alumni explore new horizons, they’ll be equipped not just with skills, but a strong sense of purpose as they navigate this changing landscape. It’s not just about adapting to a new tool; it’s about fostering a culture that prioritizes human creativity and ethical usage in a world increasingly influenced by AI.

In summary, there’s a definitive push at Dordt College to tackle the complexities of AI while maintaining the essence of human connection and creativity. The journey, as many are discovering, combines new technology with timeless values.

Dordt College is actively engaging with AI’s transformative potential. Faculty and alumni are not just adapting, but innovating ways to embrace technology while prioritizing human creativity and ethical considerations. With dedicated leaders like Dr. Zuidema, De Groot, Mulder, and Prinsen, Dordt aims to empower the next generation to navigate this changing landscape responsibly and effectively. The idea is not just to exist in an AI-driven world but to thrive and preserve the core values of the community.

Original Source: www.dordt.edu