College-level writing requires students to do much more than put words on a page. In English 101, they learn and practice rhetoric — the art of effective communication. Crafting convincing arguments, tailoring messages for a specific audience and carefully considering how words affect a reader are important skills that provide the foundation for writing and critical thinking.
Thousands of UWM students take English 101 every year. But in Fall 2024, the English department debuted a new curriculum designed to teach students rhetoric in the age of artificial intelligence.
Generative AI apps, which run on large language models, are growing in popularity and creating disruptions to college writing classes.
“As worrisome as all that is, I feel strongly that it’s here to stay,” said Shevaun Watson, an associate professor and the director of composition in the College of Letters & Science. Professional organizations like the Modern Language Association and the Conference on College Composition and Communication are also calling for English teachers to get their hands on AI tools and figure out how to effectively use them in the classroom.
In response, Watson and David Kocik, a PhD student in media cinema and digital studies, designed and integrated a critical (as in critical thinking) AI literacy program. It teaches students how AI tools work and when to use them for writing and research. Students also learn to consider the big picture of AI’s world-altering impact and shortcomings.
“To have a critical AI literacy curriculum doesn’t mean just unvarnished enthusiasm and adoption,” Watson noted. While students learn how to use the tools in class, they also discuss the ethical issues around AI, such as bias and environmental impact. Knowing how to use AI is one thing, but instructors also aim to help students develop critical thinking skills so they can assess how it continues to shape everyday life.
Read the full story on UWM Report.
By Jennifer Walter, Marketing & Communications