Student Voices on Navigating AI in Higher Education
As the academic year wraps up, the final AI in Practice webinar of the semester turned the spotlight on the learners themselves. “Student Voices: Navigating AI in Higher Education” brought together a panel of students from UBalt, UMBC, and Johns Hopkins to share how generative AI is showing up in their academic lives—how it helps, how it hinders, and how they hope faculty will respond.
Across institutions and disciplines, students described using AI tools for everything from brainstorming assignments to simplifying complex readings. But they also spoke to the uncertainties—ethical gray areas, unclear expectations, and varied faculty approaches. One of the most powerful themes to emerge from the conversation was the desire for more open dialogue: students want to talk about how AI is shaping their learning and be invited into the conversation around its use.
Panelists emphasized the need for consistent messaging, thoughtful guidance, and support in learning how to use AI responsibly. They weren’t asking for blanket policies or restrictions, but rather for opportunities to engage critically with AI tools alongside their instructors. Several even called for course assignments that let them compare, critique, or improve AI-generated responses—something that would help develop both technical fluency and deeper learning strategies.
As AI tools become more embedded in how students approach their coursework, faculty have a unique opportunity to reflect on their own classroom practices. How might you acknowledge the tools your students are already using? Where can space be created for critical discussion, curiosity, or experimentation? The conversation isn’t just about policy—it’s about partnership.
About the Series
The AI in Practice webinar series is a collaborative initiative between CELTT, UBalt’s Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation (CEI), the Johns Hopkins University, and the University of Maryland Baltimore County. This partnership brings together diverse perspectives to explore how AI is reshaping education, research, and institutional strategy. If you missed this webinar, you can watch it here on YouTube.
As we head into summer, there are more ways to keep the conversation going. Consider signing up for the Google AI Essentials course for USM faculty, or register for the UBalt AI Summit on June 3, where we’ll continue exploring the big questions AI brings to higher education.
