Ana Marjanovic, LMS Administrator, Instructional Designer, EdTech 

EdTech at Hostos is excited to unveil some significant enhancements to the “Are You Ready?” course for the 2023/24 academic year. This course, at its core, equips students with the necessary skills and knowledge to succeed in the online learning environment. It aids students in gaining awareness of key strategies and resources, familiarizing themselves with essential CUNY digital platforms, understanding the navigation and usage of Learning Management System (LMS) tools, and becoming aware of the required technology tools for effective online learning. Moreover, it fosters an understanding of Digital Citizenship principles, advocating ethical practices to maintain academic integrity in the online learning environment.

Continual refinement of this course reflects our commitment to ensuring that it effectively prepares students for a successful online learning journey. To that end, significant changes have been made in the course focusing on three key areas: Pre- and Post Self-Assessments, Regular and Substantive Interaction (RSI), and the Responsible Use of AI Tools. These enhancements are intended to further enrich the student learning experience and set them on a path to success in online education.

Pre and Post Self-Assessment

One of the most significant updates to the “Are You Ready?” course is the incorporation of both Pre- and Post-course self-assessments. The pre-course assessment enables students to gauge their initial knowledge, skills, and attitudes toward online learning. Once the course is completed, students participate in the Post-course self-assessment. This assessment helps identify the growth students have experienced, what they have learned, and how their perspectives on online learning have evolved.

By participating in these assessments, students assist in shaping their learning journey. Furthermore, these self-assessments empower students to witness their growth firsthand. This enhancement offers an excellent opportunity for self-reflection and has the potential to dramatically enrich the overall learning experience.

Regular and Substantive Interaction (RSI)

Another core update to the “Are You Ready?” course pertains to the reinforcement of Regular and Substantive Interaction (RSI). This educational standard, mandated by the US Department of Education, distinguishes online education from traditional correspondence courses. The focus of RSI is the consistent and substantive engagement between students and instructors, encompassing both synchronous and asynchronous interactions.

For further information about RSI, students can review the detailed RSI statement. Embracing the concept of RSI will facilitate an engaging and rewarding online learning experience in students’ academic journey.

Responsible Use of AI Tools

The updated “Are You Ready?” course content includes a focus on the responsible and ethical use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) writing tools, emphasizing a strong adherence to the principles of Academic Integrity. These tools, including Grammarly, Quillbot, and OpenAI’s GPT, have transformative potential in education but require mindful usage. The course guidelines underscore the need for students to:

  • Seek explicit permission from their instructors before utilizing AI writing tools.
  • Thoroughly review and edit AI-generated content to ensure its accuracy and relevance.
  • Avoid presenting AI-generated content as their original work. If an AI tool contributes a unique idea or perspective that influences a student’s work, it should be appropriately cited, as with any human author.
  • Uphold privacy and confidentiality when using AI tools, ensuring that the generation of content does not infringe upon the private or confidential information of students, their classmates, or instructors.

These principles reinforce the necessity of aligning the use of AI tools with the CUNY Academic Integrity Policy. The “Are You Ready?” course strongly advises students to consult with their course instructors for specific rules related to AI tool usage. Including the guidelines in the “Are You Ready?” course reflects a commitment to guiding students to success in the digital age while emphasizing ethical practices in the evolving educational landscape.

As we navigate the rapidly evolving landscape of online learning, the enhancements made to the “Are You Ready?” course underscore our commitment to creating an enriching and engaging online learning environment for students.

EdTech Innovations, Issue 25, fall 2023, cover page

 

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