Instructor and student values of plain language writing competencies in the wake of generative A.I.
Kerry Ritchie | Aron Fazekas - $10,000
At the University of Guelph, ‘Communicating’ is identified as one of five Senate approved University-wide learning outcomes. An important skill within the domain of communication, particularly for STEM students, is the ability to take complex or technical publications from the primary literature or other sources and re-communicate an effective summary to the non-specialist. While instructors consistently place a high value on all communication skills, students may value various communication competencies differently, depending on their perceived skill in the competency, and the degree to which they think it may be important in the short and long term. With the recent sudden awareness of the use and potential impact of generative Artificial Intelligence (AI), a significant disconnect between instructor's and student's perceptions and values of creating plain language summaries may result. This research will examine the ways students and instructors value skills that have formed a core component of university outcomes for decades but are now readily replicated by AI.