Artificial intelligence is rapidly entering the classroom, but its role remains widely debated. For some educators, generative AI represents a threat to academic integrity and authentic learning. For others, it offers an opportunity to expand instructional capacity and deepen student engagement. The central question is not whether AI will influence education, but how it can be integrated responsibly and effectively. This session reframes generative AI not as a shortcut for students, but as a strategic instructional companion.
Generative AI tools such as ChatGPT, Google Gemini, Microsoft Copilot, and Notebook LM are increasingly accessible to both faculty and students. Rather than focusing solely on student use, this research presentation emphasizes how instructors can leverage these platforms to enhance course planning, curriculum design, and tutoring support. Through carefully constructed prompts, educators can develop structured lesson outlines, generate practice scenarios, create adaptive learning supports, and scaffold complex topics in ways that strengthen comprehension.
The session includes practical demonstrations that move beyond theory into application. Participants will see how generative AI models can assist in designing course modules, producing formative assessments, and developing guided tutoring conversations that promote critical thinking. By positioning AI as a learning companion rather than a replacement for instruction, the presentation underscores the importance of maintaining intellectual rigor while expanding instructional tools.
Pedagogical and ethical considerations remain central to the discussion. Integrating AI into teaching requires clarity around transparency, responsible use, and academic integrity. The session addresses common concerns about overreliance, misuse, and erosion of critical skills. It also explores strategies that maintain accountability while empowering students to use AI constructively within defined parameters.
A key theme of the presentation is reframing perception. When educators design assignments intentionally and establish structured boundaries, AI becomes a facilitator of deeper inquiry rather than a substitute for learning. Human judgment, mentorship, and instructional expertise remain essential. Generative AI, when applied thoughtfully, can amplify those strengths rather than diminish them.
Designed as an interactive mini workshop, the session encourages participants to bring their own devices and engage directly with the tools being discussed. By combining hands on exploration with reflective dialogue, the presentation equips instructors with practical strategies for integrating AI responsibly. In doing so, it contributes to a broader conversation about how higher education can adapt to technological change while preserving academic standards and intellectual development.
Author and Affiliation
Reza Kheirandish, Clayton State University
This presentation will be delivered in person at the SAM International Business Conference as part of the Educational Research and Measurement track. Attendees will explore practical demonstrations of generative AI tools and examine strategies for responsible classroom integration that support student success and academic integrity. For more information visit www.samnational.org/conference