By Dr. Jarrod Sadulski | 08/24/2026
The use of artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly developing in many aspects of daily life. We depend on artificial intelligence to help us manage various daily activities that include Google® searches and smart devices like phones and AI assistants that we use in our homes and businesses.
Artificial intelligence is also frequently used in machinery that makes many of the things we use every day. AI plays an important role in many industries that utilize technology, such as:
- Transportation
- Medicine
- Logistics
- International business
- Banking
In addition, AI is changing traditional learning methods. It has the potential to greatly transform higher education and support students during their academic journey.
Common AI Tools Students Use in Higher Education
There are several AI platforms in existence. One common platform is Microsoft® Copilot®. Other tools include:
- Claude®
- Perplexity®
- ChatGPT®
AI components also been built into the software that students use. For instance, Copilot has been built into Microsoft Word® and Microsoft Outlook®. Similarly, AI has been built into Grammarly® to help students by providing suggestions on strengthening grammar and writing. However, AI usage should not take the place of proofreading and creating individualized content.
The Role of AI Tools in Higher Education
Artificial intelligence has taken higher ed by storm. It has major implications for the way courses are developed and delivered to students, and AI also has major implications for educating students.
Provided ethical considerations for using AI are met, AI can support different learning styles and collaborative learning, and it offers a useful way to prepare students for real-world scenarios. AI can also be used to foster critical thinking skills in higher education through innovative curriculum development.
AI and Curriculum Development
Ideally, schools should have policies that guide the use of AI-generated content in course development and in classrooms. AI can enhance productivity and ingenuity in course development.
For example, generative AI software can improve higher education courses by using AI prompts to create images and text. This AI-generated content creation can ensure students’ alignment with course learning objectives.
Training data and AI integration can be used to generate course learning objectives that promote student learning. For instance, AI technologies can be used to develop course objectives that encourage critical thinking through their alignment with Bloom’s Taxonomy, a cornerstone of student engagement for many higher education institutions.
Bloom’s Taxonomy serves as a learning framework that breaks down information from complex ideas to simple concepts. It is commonly used in course development because it helps course developers create engaging lesson plans and content that helps promote learning.
The Use of AI to Promote Learning and Critical Thinking
AI software can enhance traditional teaching methods and strengthen the learning environment to foster student success. It can map out learning outcomes as they relate to class discussions, exams, and assessments. Course mapping through AI software can help course developers create assignments that encourage personalized learning.
In higher education, AI can aid course development by analyzing content for any gaps that can be strengthened or unintentional redundancies in course content. AI can also provide assistance with course curricula and can offer recommendations on course content to ensure that certain conditions are met, such as:
- Academic integrity
- Academic rigor
- Accreditation requirements
If permitted by university policy, AI tools can support critical thinking and a strong learning environment. For example, AI tools can be used to:
- Create a draft of student learning activities, such as simulations and scenarios that align course content with real-world applications in multiple formats
- Develop case studies that simplify complex concepts, allowing students to comprehend educational content more easily as they complete assignments
- Introduce students to different learning environments that incorporate educational technology, such as interactive role-playing scenarios and multimedia learning developed through generative AI
- Create exam test banks
- Compile study guides tailored to different learning styles
- Create assessments with accompanying rubrics that align with course learning objectives
- Tailor learning concepts that promote diverse perspectives and different methods of learning
- Provide instant feedback
AI Does Not Replace Human Creativity
It’s essential to note that incorporating AI into educational institutions and using generative AI does not take away human creativity. Instead, it enhances it. Integrating AI can be effective in creating teaching materials that incorporate student feedback and foster student success.
Enhancing student engagement through AI in higher education and course development requires human ingenuity. It also requires higher education subject matter experts to manage any content provided to AI platforms or created by AI tools.
Protecting Data Privacy When Using AI
AI integration and generative AI in higher education is only as good as the data entered into AI tools. Data privacy should always be considered when using AI, because users cannot always delete the student data entered into AI platforms.
Integrating AI into Online Learning Platforms
AI can also be implemented into adaptive learning platforms. For example, generative AI tools can be integrated in higher education online learning platforms by utilizing platforms responsive to individual student needs.
For example, technology powered by generative AI tools can respond to student behavior and provide students with learning experiences that may include presenting material in a different way. If students struggle to understand their coursework, AI can alter the difficulty level of coursework to meet students’ educational levels and help students get caught up.
To remain on the cutting edge of student learning, embracing AI in higher education is crucial for educational institutions. There are different factors that should be considered when using AI tools or generative AI content in higher education.
For instance, an important responsibility is to ensure that AI systems protect student data privacy. While multiple versions of generative AI and adaptive learning platforms can be effective in developing personalized learning, ethical use of AI is extremely important to ensure that privacy is retained.
Also, clear university policies and guidelines should be established for the use of AI in the classroom. These policies and guides will be helpful for both students and faculty members.
Maintaining Academic Integrity When Using AI
To maintain academic integrity and academic rigor, students must have a clear understanding of what is permitted and what is not regarding the use of AI in higher education. For example, students should be made aware that while school policies may permit the use of AI in higher education for brainstorming, organizing content, or learning new concepts, AI software must be used responsibly.
When used ethically and within university policy, AI can improve student success by serving as an aid for academic writing or conducting research. It can be used to enhance student learning experiences by condensing lecture notes to create a concise study guide or giving alternative explanations of a topic that may be hard to understand. However, students must ensure that any restrictions on the use of AI by a school or an instructor are followed.
AI can be effective in promoting student learning through enhancing research skills. For example, it can be used to summarize complex articles written in international journals, and it can effectively navigate large datasets to pinpoint specific and relevant information a student needs.
Ethical Use of AI for Students
Students are required to be transparent when using generative AI; they must provide proper credit to a source. Students also should ensure that information they obtain through AI software is accurate and relevant, since AI software is known to hallucinate at times.
Maintaining academic integrity is extremely important. Students should not plagiarize or present someone else’s content as their own, which can occur when AI software is used. In the American Public University (APU) Student Handbook, “the inappropriate use of AI to generate content as defined by course instructions” is listed as academic dishonesty.
Students should also be cautious and not become overly reliant on AI. They should apply their critical thinking skills and ensure that any material generated with AI software is valid.
The Bachelor of Science in Artificial Intelligence at APU
For adult learners interested in learning more about artificial intelligence and ways to use it, American Public University provides an online Bachelor of Science in Artificial Intelligence. For this degree program, students can enroll in courses such as the fundamentals of artificial intelligence, prompt engineering, and user experience design. Other courses include artificial intelligence application, collaborative tools, and machine learning.
For more information about the information technology degrees available at APU, visit our information technology degree program page.
Google is a registered trademark of Google, LLC.
Microsoft is a registered trademark of the Microsoft Corporation.
Copilot is a registered trademark of the Microsoft Corporation.
Claude is a registered trademark of Anthropic, PBC.
Perplexity is a registered trademark of Perplexity AI, Inc.
ChatGPT is a registered trademark of OpenAI OpCo, LLC.
Word is a registered trademark of the Microsoft Corporation.
Outlook is a registered trademark of the Microsoft Corporation.
Grammarly is a registered trademark of Superhuman Platform, Inc.
Dr. Jarrod Sadulski is an associate professor in the School of Security and Global Studies and has over 20 years in the field of criminal justice. He holds a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from Thomas Edison State College, a master’s degree in criminal justice from American Military University, and a Ph.D. in criminal justice from Northcentral University.
His expertise includes training on countering human trafficking, maritime security, mitigating organized crime, and narcotics trafficking trends in Latin America. Jarrod has also testified to both the U.S. Congress and U.S. Senate on human trafficking and child exploitation. He has been recognized by the U.S. Senate as an expert in human trafficking.
Jarrod frequently conducts in-country research and consultant work in Central and South America on human trafficking and current trends in narcotics trafficking. Also, he has a background in business development.