The Pros and Cons of Informing Students About AI in Grading
Picture this: I'm sitting at my desk, stack of papers to grade (and maybe a few too many coffee cups), when my new AI teaching assistant swoops in to help. Unlike my human teaching assistants (TAs), this one thankfully doesn't need breaks or complain about the workload! But here's my dilemma: as AI becomes increasingly integrated into the tools I use to grade student work, should I be upfront with them about my new grading helper? Here are some considerations:
The Upsides of Transparency About AI
- Keeping It Real (Transparent): When students know AI is involved in grading, it may foster a sense of transparency, reducing potential concerns about fairness or bias. It's like telling them upfront that yes, I have a robot friend helping me read their papers, but don't worry - it's not making decisions based on whether it liked the latest Marvel movie.
- Demonstrating I’m Tech-Savvy: Nothing says "We're with the times!" quite like admitting we've got AI on board. Informing students about AI signals that their school is committed to using modern tools.
- Teaching Tech Literacy: Openly discussing AI's role in grading is a great opportunity for me to help students develop a deeper understanding of how this technology works in the real world. Think of it as preparing them for a future where they might have robot colleagues (who hopefully won't steal their lunch from the break room fridge).
The Potential Downsides of Transparency
- Trust Issues: Some students may feel uneasy about a “machine” playing a part in evaluating their hard work. "But does it understand my creative genius?" they might ask. (Spoiler: It understands grammar better than most humans!)
- The Feedback Fiasco: Students might dismiss AI feedback faster than a dating app reject. "Oh, a robot didn't like my essay? Whatever!" (eye roll) If students view the AI-generated feedback as less meaningful than comments from me or my TAs, they may be less engaged and less inclined to implement it.
- Increased Anxiety and Pressure Factor: Some students might stress about writing "AI-friendly" papers. We don't want them adding "HELLO ROBOT GRADER" at the top of every essay! The awareness that AI factors into grading might create stress for some students. They may feel compelled to meet certain "AI-friendly" criteria, stifling their natural creative expression.
After weighing these pros and cons, I've realized being transparent about AI's role in grading is trickier than explaining why the printer is always jammed. But here’s the bottom line, I want to create a classroom environment where students feel supported, whether that support comes from me, a human TA, or our friendly neighborhood AI buddy named Rubriko. I also need to consider my specific educational goals, my institutional policies and, perhaps most importantly, the needs of my students.
What do you think?