Key points:
- Although AI has soared in popularity, higher education is cautious in its rate of AI adoption
- Many in higher ed cite concerns around cheating as their biggest reason for not adopting AI
- See related article: Education in the age of AI and smart technology
Artificial intelligence (AI) has certainly made its presence known in higher education, bringing with it opportunities and challenges. AI adoption in higher ed could help support equity initiatives and increase digital skills and workforce readiness, but it also has introduced a number of concerns in areas such as academic integrity and bias.
Supporting Instruction & Learning Through Artificial Intelligence: A Survey of Institutional Practices & Policies, a July 2023 report from WCET (the WICHE Cooperative for Educational Technologies) based on a national April 2023 survey, outlines how and why higher-ed institutions are using AI in their efforts to support instruction and learning, what policies they have put in place, and what barriers and benefits exist around AI adoption.
When survey participants were asked what stage they are in regarding AI adoption and implementation to support instruction and learning, nearly 60 percent said the use of AI to support instruction and learning at their institution “is on the radar or
scattered but there is no systemic action yet,” and 22 percent said they are in the planning stage.
For those who indicated any level of AI adoption or use, more than half (53 percent) first deployed AI to support instruction and learning less than one year ago, 19 percent one to two years ago, 20 percent three to five years ago, and only 8 percent deployed more than five years ago.
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