How teaching and learning will change in the age of AI, with C. Edward Watson, PhD, and Beth Schwartz, PhD
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How is generative AI currently being used by students in K‑12 and higher education?
Over the past several years, generative AI has moved into the classroom at lightning speed. Students are using AI to brainstorm ideas, write papers, solve math problems, and study for exams. Teachers are experimenting with it to create lesson plans and develop assignments. Meanwhile, schools and universities are trying to adapt to a technology that is evolving faster than many policies and teaching practices can keep up. Today we're going to talk to two experts who are helping educators navigate these changes using the science of learning to help answer questions about how AI can support and not hinder student learning. So, how are students using AI in their work right now? What counts as cheating in the age of AI?
What kinds of assignments, projects, and exams can teachers use to make sure that their students are really learning, not just copying AI generated answers? What are the potential benefits of AI in education? And how should colleges and universities think about educating an AI literate workforce in the future? Welcome to Speaking of Psychology, the flagship podcast of the American Psychological Association that examines the links between psychological science and everyday life. I'm Kim Mills. I have two guests today. First is Dr. Eddie Watson, Vice President for Digital Innovation at the American Association of Colleges and Universities, and founding director of the Association's Institute on AI, Pedagogy, and the Curriculum.
His work aims to help colleges move beyond fear or hype toward a thoughtful, evidence-informed integration of AI into teaching and learning. He has focused on how institutions can respond to AI's challenges for academic integrity, student learning, curriculum design, and workforce preparation. І'с the author of the book Teaching With Ai a Practical Guide to a New Era of Human Learning. And was recently recognized by EdTech magazine as one of the top 25 higher education influencers to follow in 2026. My second guest is doctor Beth Schwartz, Senior Director of Teaching and Learning at APA. She leads the association's efforts to advance evidence based teaching and learning across educational settings.
Before joining APA, doctor Schwartz spent decades working in higher education as a psychology professor, university dean, and provost. She's a fellow of APA's division two, the Society for the Teaching of Psychology. And she's leading APA's efforts to provide educators with practical evidence informed strategies on how to use AI in their classrooms, guided by psychological research on how students learn. Doctor Schwartz, Doctor Watson, thank you for joining me today.
Thanks for having us. Yes, great to be here.
Let's start by talking about how common AI use in the classroom is right now at the K through twelve and university level. I mean, what do we know from research and surveys and what are you hearing from the educators you work with? Maybe Doctor Watson, maybe you want to grab that.
Well, it's interesting that the data is a little bit mixed. We can probably estimate that it is a large percentage of students that are using it, especially at the university level. Um, but surveys of students, you know, where they self report um how active they've been using genitive AI, the the results, depending on the survey, are wildly divergent. I've seen them in as low as in the twenty percent range and in other surveys up near ninety percent. So I'm I'm imagining that some students might not want to self-report that they have have been using it. But without a doubt, you know, I I would imagine it's certainly more than half, maybe three quarters of students are using it. And of course there's a lot of different ways to use it.
I mean, some students are using it for, you know, career planning or to help them learn various topics. And of course there There are other ways that they might use it that might diminish their learning or might be outright cheating, but certainly the vast majority of students are indeed using AI today.
And are we talking about mostly high school and college level or are kids younger than that using AI right now?
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Chapters
4 chapters
1
How is generative AI currently being used by students in K‑12 and higher education?
0:01–15:57
2
What does recent research reveal about the prevalence of AI use among university students?
15:57–28:05
3
What are educators’ top concerns about AI‑driven cognitive off‑loading and academic integrity?
28:05–38:29
4
How are faculty members experimenting with AI for lesson planning, grading, and assessment design?
38:29–45:56
Speakers
1 identifiedMore from Speaking of Psychology
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