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In a recent episode of the HigherEdJobs Podcast, Dr. José Antonio Bowen and Dr. Edward Watson joined co-hosts Andy Hibel and Kelly Cherwin for a conversation about how artificial intelligence is reshaping higher education. The conversation was inspired by the second edition of their book, “Teaching with AI: A Practical Guide to a New Era of Human Learning,” as well as their ongoing work with institutions nationwide.
Kelly began the discussion by asking how faculty attitudes toward AI are changing. “Are you seeing less resistance, new excitement, or maybe a mix of both?” she asked.
Watson described how quickly faculty responses have shifted. “When generative AI first arrived just over three years ago, there was a period of discovery, followed by a challenging year focused on academic integrity,” he recalled. As AI became more common in the workplace, the conversation on campuses expanded. “Institutions started asking, ‘How can we prepare students for life after graduation?'” Watson said.
This shift led to bigger discussions about curriculum. “AI literacy is now a major topic, and a lot of curricular reform is underway,” Watson explained, but concerns remain. “Faculty are still very much worried about academic integrity,” he added, noting that surveys show many educators hold uneasy views about AI. “There’s a lot of anxiety and concern among faculty these days.”
Bowen added on to this, observing that faculty aren’t just anxious, they’re grieving. “People are tired. They’re burnt out,” he said. For many, AI feels like just one more upheaval. “It’s understandable, it’s one more thing to deal with,” Bowen said.
He explained that the feeling of loss is personal. “This is existential,” he reflected. “Teaching isn’t just a job, it’s about passion for a subject.” The idea that their field of expertise might become less essential is painful for many educators. “If students don’t care as much about my field, or if my knowledge isn’t seen as vital, that’s a hard reality to face,” he said.
Bowen also noted that not all faculty think the same way. “There’s a real divide,” he observed. While some remain cautious, others are experimenting and trying new things in their classrooms. “Every campus we visit has innovators doing interesting work,” Bowen said.
Andy connected these changes to a larger shift happening in education. “AI is about to change our relationship with thinking, just as the internet changed our relationship with knowledge,” he said.
Throughout their conversation, Bowen and Watson stressed that AI isn’t only a technical issue; it’s also fundamentally about teaching and learning.
Despite the uncertainty, both Watson and Bowen agreed that higher education has a chance to lead the way in using AI ethically, and humanely, making the educational experience stronger, not weaker.
For the full conversation on AI, faculty identity, and the future of teaching and learning, listen to the episode below, and stay tuned for part two of the conversation.
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