In an interview with The Globe and Mail, Trent University Program Coordinator Amanda Paxton discusses her research on the harms faced by writing instructors in the age of AI, as well as how the Government of Canada’s upcoming AI strategy could offer support. Paxton’s research found that instructors struggle to deal with the detection of AI use and subsequent confrontation of students who use it, while also experiencing “moral injury” that makes them doubt their purpose in an AI-driven world. While she opts to use hand-written in-class writing assignments, Paxton says that this is not enough to bypass the effects of AI. Paxton concludes support from the federal government’s AI strategy through funding or vetted detection tools would be an important first step.
