In this podcast episode, we explore the intersection of artificial intelligence (AI), education, and the ethical challenges it presents in the classroom. Our guests, Lara Bryfonski, Assistant Professor in the Department of Linguistics, and Ben Harbert, Professor and Chair in the Department of Performing Arts, share insights from their fields of linguistics and music.

Lara describes how she integrates AI into her linguistics courses, focusing on how it impacts language learning and the ethical concerns of AI bias, particularly around language diversity. She encourages students to critically evaluate AI tools like text-to-speech and machine translation, highlighting how these systems can marginalize minority dialects.

Ben discusses AI’s role in music creation, where AI challenges traditional notions of human creativity. His students experiment with AI-generated music, comparing its output to human creations and examining the implications of AI on the emotional depth and cultural significance of music.

Both guests emphasize the importance of teaching students to be critical users of AI, exploring ethical issues such as bias, ownership, and the future of human creativity in an AI-driven world. The episode concludes with a discussion on how educators can prepare students to navigate AI thoughtfully, ensuring the preservation of human diversity and creativity.

This episode was produced from a 60-minute panel discussion held at Georgetown's Digital Learning Days event in August 2024. To hear the full, unabridged conversation visit this Vimeo page.

Bios

Featured in this episode:

Lara Bryfonski, Assistant Professor, Department of Linguistics

Benjamin J. Harbert, Professor | Chair, Department of Performing Arts|Director of Undergraduate Studies - Music

Georgetown AI Resources

• Georgetown Linguistics and AI

• Teaching with AI

• Additional CNDLS Resources in AI

• Georgetown Initiative on Pedagogical Uses of Artificial Intelligence (IPAI)

• Artificial Intelligence (Generative) Resources

  
  

  Visit cndls.georgetown.edu for our full show notes.

Belonging is gaining increased attention on college campuses, likely due to factors such as the mental health crisis, pandemic-induced isolation, challenges to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives, and debates on inclusivity versus free speech. Recognizing belonging as a universal human need has become paramount. In August 2022, we aired a highly popular episode featuring 13 faculty and staff discussing strategies for fostering belonging in classrooms. Building on its success, we delve deeper into the literature exploring the meaning and importance of belonging in academic success. In this initial episode of a two-part series, we tackle fundamental questions: What is the link between belonging and academic achievement? Why does it matter, and how can it be quantified and jeopardized? The subsequent episode will focus on practical interventions, both within and beyond the classroom, aimed at fostering belonging. Throughout both episodes, insights from three Georgetown University faculty and staff will be interspersed with relevant research findings to provide comprehensive perspectives on belonging and its impact on academic success.

To read more about this topic, visit our website where you will find an extensive bibliography and more information about our guests.

Belonging is gaining increased attention on college campuses, likely due to factors such as the mental health crisis, pandemic-induced isolation, challenges to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives, and debates on inclusivity versus free speech. Recognizing belonging as a universal human need has become paramount. In August 2022, we aired a highly popular episode featuring 13 faculty and staff discussing strategies for fostering belonging in classrooms. Building on its success, we delve deeper into the literature exploring the meaning and importance of belonging in academic success. In this initial episode of a two-part series, we tackle fundamental questions: What is the link between belonging and academic achievement? Why does it matter, and how can it be quantified and jeopardized? The subsequent episode will focus on practical interventions, both within and beyond the classroom, aimed at fostering belonging. Throughout both episodes, insights from three Georgetown University faculty and staff will be interspersed with relevant research findings to provide comprehensive perspectives on belonging and its impact on academic success.

To read more about this topic click here to go to our website where you will find an extensive bibliography and more information about our guests.