By Sarah Freye
I’m an instructional technologist, so you may think I’m passionate about working with instructional technology. But the truth is, ed tech is not an innovative field. Products rarely perform as promised, and adaptation for the classroom is a halting, awkward process. Much of my time is spent figuring out how to fit educational practices into technology, rather than the other way around.
But ChatGPT was different.
When I started experimenting with the advanced model in March of 2024, I realized immediately I had to share it. And when I demonstrated it to friends and colleagues, I was rewarded with powerfully entertaining reactions: shock, worry, elation– I reveled in the open-mouthed surprise at this new disruptive technology. I couldn’t resist documenting their reactions in the moment:
Carrisma, a graduate student studying clinical psychology.
Jean, my octogenarian mother-in-law.
Julia and Julio, undergraduate students.
Laura, current high school English teacher (and bestie).
In work meetings, class discussions, family gatherings, and friend hangouts, I couldn’t resist asking people what they thought of this new, disruptive technology. And soon, instead of pictures, I was collecting stories of how others were thinking, using, resisting, or planning on using AI.
When I joined MSU’s IT educational technology team six months ago, I focused my efforts on learning all I could about generative AI. We’re in what machine learning experts call the “Large Scale Era.” AI’s growth has outpaced even Moore’s Law, leaving higher education scrambling to keep up. Students can access advanced Large Language Models on their phones for free. AI is being incorporated into search engines and learning management systems. From data analysis to the peer review process, faculty are facing a momentous shift in both their classrooms and research environments. In my new role, I wanted to help the university share stories across disciplines, classrooms, and campuses.
And lucky for me, MJ crafted a space to do just that.
With these stories of AI Commons, I want to highlight the real experiences of students, staff, and faculty who are making the Large-Scale Era one of inquiry and discovery. So let’s get in touch: share your story.
Sarah Freye is an instructional designer and serves as a co-founder and reviewer for AI Commons.