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ability in our ever changing environment, that is probably the most
important thing we can give them
while they are here.”
Human intelligence,
connections & technology
Obviously, though, there are
some fields that will be impacted
more than others by AI. Nursing,
for example, is one that will be
less affected. “It will always be
the case that humans need other
humans,” Rayfield says. “I think
that human intelligence and human
connections will probably be more
important than they are today if
we are utilizing technology in such
profound and impactful ways.”
Furthermore, Rayfeld emphasizes that a general education
in addition to highly specialized
courses will still be important for
students. “I believe very strongly
in the power of general education
core curriculum. It is a place where
people can learn to speak and to
think critically, in areas that are
not natural to them. And as we
design the best core curriculum,
we should be designing something
that enables students to be very
successful regardless of what the
job market and workforce requirements are going to be.”
Bottom line: It’s critical thinking,
problem solving, creativity, communication and professionalism that
are taught in a core curriculum. “If
we get the core curriculum right,
students should be able to flex, be
nimble, to pivot, into this dynamic
environment that we’re in,” she
continues. “If we don’t get that right,
then we’re not doing a good service
to our students.”
It’s one thing to endorse AI as a
learning tool, another to decide the
most effective way to implement
it in the classroom and in course
design. “How do we kind of rethink
how we do our job?” Rayfield asks.
“And how do we begin to prepare
students for an environment that is
not concrete, is not stable?”
That is a question that no one
can answer with absolute certainty. “But I can say with absolute certainty that things will not look the
same a year from now, two years
from now, three years from now.”
That is an answer with which
even AI would probably agree.
David Beasley is an Atlanta-based freelance
writer.
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