Rollins Computer Science Professor Discusses AI in the Classroom

As colleges continue to grapple with the impact of generative artificial intelligence on teaching and learning, Dan Myers sees faculty attitudes gradually shifting from resistance toward experimentation. According to Myers, many professors who were initially hesitant about AI are becoming more open to exploring productive ways to incorporate it into their courses. He observed that colleagues are increasingly willing to consider how AI can enhance learning rather than viewing it solely as a threat.

Myers attributes this change in part to the rapid evolution of AI tools. He noted that educators now have access to a wider range of models and applications beyond simple text generation, creating new opportunities for teaching and learning. As a result, he has encouraged faculty members to begin with small-scale experiments. One recommendation he shared with colleagues was to identify a single course where they feel comfortable testing AI-related assignments and gradually relaxing restrictions. This approach allows instructors to learn what works effectively before expanding AI use more broadly.

In his own teaching, Myers has significantly redesigned courses in response to AI. In introductory computer science classes, he has increased in-class practice and lab activities, reduced traditional homework, and shifted more assessment to in-person quizzes and exams. While students are permitted to use AI on larger projects, they must document their interactions with the technology.

For advanced courses, Myers takes a more open approach, allowing students to use AI freely. However, he emphasizes that assignment design is critical. Rather than relying on problems with a single correct answer, he creates projects that require students to make choices, test ideas, and refine solutions through experimentation. In his view, this process encourages genuine learning while enabling students to use AI as a tool rather than a substitute for critical thinking and creativity.

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