What Is AI in Higher Ed?
Artificial intelligence (AI) represents a fundamental shift in how teaching and learning occur in higher education. The AI literacy imperative demands that institutions prepare students for a workplace where 37% of professionals will use AI tools daily by 2027.1
AI in education means more than technical skills. Students must understand AI’s capabilities and limitations. They should view these tools as collaborators rather than replacements for human judgment. Generative AI tools, in particular, are reshaping the learning environment.
AI applications in higher education like , and offer new ways to:
- Create content
- Assist with research
- Personalize learning experiences
- Simulate real-world scenarios
Critical thinking becomes paramount when using artificial intelligence in education. Students must evaluate AI-generated outputs carefully, spotting potential biases or errors. 番茄视频 (ACE) defines this as “AI-assisted learning” 鈥� a partnership where human creativity and judgment guide AI capabilities toward meaningful outcomes.
The distinction between AI literacy and AI dependence is essential. ACE encourages leveraging AI tools while maintaining intellectual independence, empathy and original thinking. Our AI policies guide students in using generative AI ethically while preserving their original ideas.
ACE鈥檚 Strategy for Building AI Literacy
ACE embeds meaningful AI experiences across all programs through a three-pronged strategy:
- Hands-on application: Using AI tools in practical ways
- Critical evaluation: Analyzing AI results
- Ethical Reflection: Considering AI鈥檚 impact and fairness
This approach ensures students don鈥檛 just learn about AI 鈥� they use it in meaningful, real-world scenarios.
Integrating AI in ACE Programs
- M.Ed. Health and Wellness: Students harness AI to craft case studies exploring workplace mental health issues. They prompt AI to generate realistic scenarios, then apply course learning to recommend appropriate interventions. This practical application demonstrates how AI enhances thinking without replacing clinical judgment.
- M.Ed. Instructional Design and Educational Technology: Students work with multiple AI tools to redesign K-12 lesson plans using problem-based learning. They evaluate AI outputs, refine prompting techniques and assess which tools best support instruction.
- M.Ed. Curriculum and Instruction: Students create “AI Tools for Instructional Improvement” guides featuring:
- Simple steps for using AI to improve teaching materials
- Tips for effective prompting
- Ethical considerations in schools
- Strategies for maintaining teaching expertise while using AI
These examples represent just the beginning. ACE continuously expands AI integration across all programs, ensuring a field-specific AI experience for every student.
AI Literacy Center
The ACE AI Literacy Center fosters a culture of ethical, informed AI use. It empowers faculty innovation in teaching and research, supports staff AI integration across institutional services and prepares students to leverage AI professionally.
The center provides extensive resources, including specialized K鈥�12 teacher modules offering strategies for:
- Streamlining planning and classroom tasks
- Customizing AI for different grade levels
- Using data to inform decisions
- Teaching students how to verify AI information
These resources help students develop and refine prompt engineering skills. They practice critical evaluation of AI outputs within their specific fields while maintaining academic integrity.
AI-Powered Instructional Design
ACE is committed to leveraging AI to create robust learning experiences. Our production team uses cutting-edge AI tools to ensure every student receives a high-quality, accessible education.
Our AI-enhanced production process includes:
- for professional narration that brings content to life with natural-sounding voices
- for dynamic visual content and animated explanations of complex concepts
- for creating custom images and infographics tailored to specific learning objectives
- Generative AI for developing comprehensive topic summaries and interactive glossaries
This efficiency allows our team to focus on pedagogical innovation rather than repetitive tasks. The result? Students experience more engaging, interactive materials that adapt to different learning approaches. This leads to improved engagement and retention rates across all programs.
Ensuring Ethical AI Use and Academic Integrity
ACE鈥檚 policies promote strong ethical standards in data privacy, intellectual property and responsible usage. Our approach goes beyond guidelines 鈥� we embed ethical thinking into every AI interaction. Every program includes a deep exploration of ethical AI considerations:
- AI algorithm bias
- Privacy concerns
- Data security
- Citing AI sources
- Societal implications
Students engage with real-world ethical dilemmas specific to their fields. For instance, education students explore how AI-powered reading assessment tools might introduce disadvantages for certain student populations. Healthcare students examine patient privacy when using AI chat-based therapy apps. Our AI Literacy Center continuously updates ethical guidelines as technology evolves.
Faculty Development
Successful AI integration begins with prepared educators. ACE invests significantly in faculty development and recognizes that instructors must model effective AI use while maintaining educational excellence.
AI literacy workshops, like the popular “Jump Into July With AI” series that engaged over 150 instructors, provided hands-on experience in AI tools. These sessions go beyond basic tool tutorials, they focus on instructional approaches that enhance rather than replace traditional teaching methods. ACE cultivates a dynamic community where faculty share experiences through department meetings, Friday Empower Hours and collaboration tools.
Measuring Success: Tracking AI Literacy Progress
ACE tracks individual learning progress through various touchpoints, identifying areas where students excel and where they need additional support.
The Harmonize discussion platform uses machine learning to monitor student participation patterns. This proactive approach enables instructors to provide timely interventions and personalized guidance.
Early indicators show positive trends in student engagement and satisfaction. Students feel more connected to their coursework and better prepared for their careers. This continuous feedback loop between student experiences and curriculum development ensures graduates are prepared for success in AI-enhanced workplaces.
Leading the Way in AI-Literate Education
ACE’s vision for AI in colleges and universities extends beyond current applications to anticipate emerging trends and technologies. The college continues building a culture of innovation through strategic investment in tools, training and support systems that empower the entire learning community.
We ensure students enter their careers not just as AI users, but as thoughtful leaders who understand both the promise and responsibility of these transformative tools. By maintaining focus on practical application, critical thinking and ethical considerations, the institution positions graduates for success in an increasingly AI-powered world.
ACE stands at the forefront of innovative online higher education. We鈥檙e dedicated to preparing educators, nurses, healthcare professionals and business leaders for tomorrow鈥檚 challenges. As a leading online-first institution serving over 12,000 students annually, ACE sees AI technology as integral to the global labor market.
Our faculty and staff members use AI tools to increase operational efficiency. We鈥檙e also systematically implementing AI practices into the curriculum. This ensures graduates leave ACE with AI literacy demanded in the 21st century workplace.
FAQs About AI in Education
AI is used for personalizing learning experiences, automating administrative tasks, providing 24/7 student support through chatbots, analyzing student performance data, creating adaptive assessments and assisting with research and content creation. Higher education institutions also use AI for enrollment predictions, early alert systems for at-risk students and enhancing accessibility through automated transcription and translation services.聽
Generative AI creates content 鈥� lesson plans, quizzes and rubrics 鈥� using trained models like GPT. These tools can generate educational materials, provide personalized feedback, simulate conversations for language learning and help students brainstorm ideas.
ACE uses generative AI to create interactive content and adaptive learning systems that respond to individual student needs. AI tools are incorporated into course materials where students practice real-world applications. The AI Literacy Center provides resources for both educators and students, while our production team uses AI to develop engaging, accessible instructional materials.聽聽
Yes 鈥� the main concerns include potential bias in AI algorithms that could affect student outcomes, risks of academic dishonesty when students misuse AI tools, data privacy concerns regarding student information and challenges when faculty lack adequate AI training. ACE addresses these risks through comprehensive AI policies, ethics training integrated into all programs, faculty development initiatives and clear guidelines for responsible AI use.聽
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ACE鈥檚 quality, affordable and fully online programs equip students for today鈥檚 digital landscape by integrating relevant technology in various fields.
