Tri-C Famous: Jacqueline Zkiab

#TriCFamous is a bimonthly feature that introduces readers to the people who make the College work while providing a sneak peek into their lives off campus.
 
Exploring the Ethics of AI in Higher Education

Tri-C instructor leads course at SUNY

Jacqueline Zkiab is asking the tough questions about the relationship between artificial intelligence and higher education. In fact, the instructional technologist at Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C®) recently led a course on the subject at the State University of New York (SUNY). Zkiab said she was the first person from outside the SUNY system to lead a course there.

“Around November of 2022, ChatGPT came out and really turned higher education upside down. It forced us to ask questions like, ‘How does this affect academic freedom? How does this affect academic integrity?’” Zkiab said. “Many people were simply asking, ‘What is this?’”

Since then, AI has entered the classroom, with concerns about students plagiarizing their coursework making mainstream headlines. Zkiab’s course was billed as an introduction to AI in higher education. The first section filled up within minutes, so a second section was added.

“AI is not scary. Nothing is going to break, but it’s important to understand and be prepared,” Zkiab said, adding that it will require higher education institutions to adapt. “People don’t realize it has been here. It’s not new. It’s been around since the ‘50s, and we’re using it. Think Siri, Alexa, Netflix or Tesla. My main concern is what’s best for the student.”

SUNY conducted a national search for an instructor to lead the AI course.

Zkiab holds a master’s degree in philosophy with a certificate in biomedical ethics. She began her life at Tri-C lecturing on “anything related to philosophy.” She now works in the College’s Instructional Design and Learning Excellence department, a role she transitioned to after the pandemic, which forced Tri-C and other learning institutions to dramatically expand their online offerings. She also remains an adjunct in philosophy.

She modeled the SUNY course on one she presented to faculty and staff at Tri-C. Being an ambassador for Tri-C at SUNY and the first educator from outside the system to present there was an honor, she said.

“Tri-C had this person that fit the puzzle perfectly, and in a lot of ways, that is a compliment to the institution for having people who are in that position,” she said.

“There’s nothing historically that comes close to AI — not the calculator, not even the pandemic. I was in college when the internet came out, but nothing has turned us around as quickly as this has,” Zkiab said. “It is just a tool, though. A lot of people are humanizing it, but it’s AI, right? It’s not perfect, and it still needs a person to make sure the output is actually true. Is it valid? Is it accurate? These are the very questions we ask in philosophy.”

August 21, 2024

By Jarrod Zickefoose, 216-987-4750 or jarrod.zickefoose@tri-c.edu