Dr. Katelyn Hancock,incorporated artificial intelligence in a student assignment for a spring 2024 course and because of the success of the innovation plans to instruct the course the same way in the fall.
Hancock, an assistant professor of criminal justice, taught the course Criminal Justice 210, Criminology, in spring 2024, incorporating AI in the final assignment.
Students found that AI was useful for basic, “getting started” work like research, but when tasked with large amounts of writing, students felt the AI lacked flow and detail.
Hancock said something was different than what she expected.
“I was a bit surprised by how many students responded that they felt the AI generator produced a better response than them,” she said. To which she assured her students, “Their responses sounded better, more ‘human.’”
Majoring in Criminal Justice at UTC
The assignment asked students to define, describe and discuss criminological theories. It required students to look at a criminological theory to evaluate and try to defend the theory’s position on why crime occurs. Afterward, students were asked to propose their own original theories on why crime happens. Students were allowed to use a relevant medium in analysis of these theories.
One of the resources students were allowed to use was AI.
The assignment encouraged students to explore theory through a different lens while also showing that, despite the possible appeal of using AI, it may not be as accurate a source of information as expected. Hancock said she hopes the experience incentivized students to complete other assessments using their own knowledge and skills.
Hancock plans to incorporate AI in future versions of the class. The use of AI has also inspired Hancock to consider other ways AI can be used as a teaching tool.
“I may use a variation of this project that shows them differences in AI-generated responses versus their own research and writing, but I am not sure what project that will be or for which course yet,” Hancock said. most.
College of Arts and Sciences Dean Pam Riggs-Gelasco awarded a $250 stipend to Hancock for her proposal to incorporate AI into an assignment.
More about Dr. Katelyn Hancock
Undergraduate programs in Criminal Justice
Graduate programs in Criminal Justice
About CHAI–the UTC Artificial Intelligence Initiative
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