Generative artificial intelligence (AI) has profoundly changed how humans write, from legal debates about model training and copyright infringement, to the neurological effects of unmoderated use of AI for writing. Today’s university and college students will continue to face uncertainty and new challenges with written communication as they move into their future professions.
Higher education institutions are in a critical but tricky position to support students in learning how to utilize AI effectively, especially when it comes to writing. In fact, despite claims that traditional writing is dead, or soon will be, communication and other human-centered skills are more essential than ever before.
In this article, we explain why human writing remains relevant for today’s students to thrive in any role or industry. We also explore how AI may cultivate (or erode) writing skills development, and what university and college leaders can do to empower faculty to teach it.
What AI can’t (and won’t) replace
Despite its expanding impact, AI struggles to replicate uniquely human qualities. As of this article, numerous studies point to the technology’s lack of:
- Nuanced understanding: From understanding the true meaning of a phrase to complex processes like peer reviews in research, AI struggles to adapt its logic and output to nuanced situations.
- Questioning its own biases and assumptions: There are many well-documented instances of AI demonstrating considerable bias in its outputs, even with careful guidance by a human user. This gap risks exacerbating users’ existing biases, as well as perpetuating negative perceptions of certain groups of people.
- Otherwise “human” judgment: AI may seem to wield logic as a human might, but it fails to reproduce human decision-making well. As just one of many studies, researchers found that AI models tend to dole out harsher judgments than their human counterparts would when predicting rules violations.
In other words, AI isn’t diminishing but rather increasing the need for more human skills like critical thinking, written communication, and problem solving. It’s no wonder why today’s employers seek candidates who demonstrate strength in these areas. These skills will shape the work, products, and economies of tomorrow and, in turn, support organizations to ride evermore rapid waves of change.
Today’s graduates still struggle with critical writing skills
In the realm of writing, critical thinking and problem solving become prerequisites for effective communication, especially with AI in the mix.
But despite the importance of these “human” skills, fifty-seven percent of students entering higher education internationally are not proficient in critical thinking, written communication, and problem solving. Perhaps more concerning, forty-seven percent of exiting students are still not proficient in these key skills (Van Damme, D. & Zahner, D., 2022).
Higher education institutions face the challenge of both equipping students with these skills while also supporting them to effectively use a technology that seems to change day to day, even minute to minute.
As any higher education leader recognizes, AI makes building these skills complex. It is all too tempting for students to replace their critical thinking rather than enhance it. With the former, students struggle to develop their own voice, style, and thoughtful position or in-depth ideas. In contrast, the latter may help students discover new perspectives, identify weaknesses in their writing or reasoning, and access other feedback to strengthen their communication skills.
Rather than turn first to AI to expedite writing assignments or take shortcuts, students stand to gain the most when they do their own thinking and drafting first—then use AI to challenge, enhance, and refine their work. Let’s now explore specific ways in which institutions may help students (as well as faculty and instructors) to position AI as this partner in writing.
AI as the “developmental reviewer”
In the early stages of a writing assignment, AI can serve as that “developmental reviewer,” a thought partner focused on the big picture of a student’s work.
With faculty guidance, students may tap AI as a neutral, distant resource and receive feedback that is difficult to identify when reviewing one’s own writing, such as:
- Choppy or uneven structure and flow of an essay
- Gaps or inconsistencies in logic
- Unclear connections between ideas
- Mismatched content to its intended audience
AI as the “editor”
AI can further support student writing development as the “editor,” zooming in on the minutiae of writing, from grammatical errors to spelling mistakes.
Though large language models are highly skilled at identifying and addressing these mechanical aspects of writing with fewer serious concerns, students may fall easily into unhelpful habits and let AI take the lead with their writing. Faculty and instructors can instead coach students to use AI as a means to internalize the essential mechanics of writing.
Style and clarity are particularly important for students to drive. When left to its own devices, AI tends to homogenize writing which risks erasing a student’s unique writing voice.
Critical thinking underscores effective AI use and writing
It is not a matter of if, but when and how students will use AI in their academic studies. Higher education institutions cannot afford to turn away from this reality, nor can they leave students to wade through the murky waters of this technology alone.
While asking AI to provide specific editorial feedback such as identifying passive voice takes more time, it yields better writing, more learning, and stronger critical thinking and communication skills.
CAE’s Critical Thinking Skills Program is designed to build human-centered skills like written communication in the modern higher education environment. Based upon empirical and pedagogical research and best practices, the program empowers colleges and universities around the world to effectively measure and teach these essential skills through instructional innovation.
