Rethinking Research
Adapting Assignments for the AI Era
AI is changing the game when it comes to research and writing. Traditional research papers can’t stay the same when students have access to AI-generated content at their fingertips. Instead of just collecting information, students need to develop critical thinking skills, analyze sources effectively, and create original insights. This week, we’re diving into how educators can rethink research assignments to emphasize deeper learning and authenticity, using insights from Liz Long’s article, The Research Paper Is Dead. Now What?
The Evolution of Research Skills
In an era where AI tools can generate full-length essays in seconds, research skills must go beyond fact-finding. Educators should focus on:
Source Evaluation – Teaching students how to assess credibility and bias in AI-assisted research.
Synthesis Over Summary – Encouraging students to compare multiple sources and develop original insights.
Process Over Product – Assessing student thought processes rather than just the final output.
How Educators Can Adapt Assignments
To maintain academic integrity while leveraging AI, consider:
Requiring Process Documentation – Ask students to submit research logs, annotated sources, and iterative drafts.
Shifting to Inquiry-Based Tasks – Pose open-ended questions that require deep analysis rather than factual regurgitation.
Utilizing AI as a Learning Tool – Encourage students to analyze AI-generated responses, identifying errors or biases.
Listen To This Search Engine Podcast
This is an excellent podcast on this topic which I highly recommend everyone listen to Search Engine - Feb 1, 2025 - Playboi Farti and his Ai Homework Machine
NotebookLM Audio Overview:
Tool Highlight: MagicSchool.AI - AI-Resistant Assignment Suggestions Bot
One practical way to adapt research assignments is by using Magic School AI’s "AI-Resistant Assignment Suggestions." This tool allows educators to:
Enter your assignment description to receive suggestions on making it more challenging for AI chatbots, promoting higher-level thinking among students.
By leveraging this tool, educators can design assignments that promote critical thinking and are less susceptible to AI-generated responses.
Here is a good explanation video:
Ethics Corner:
The role of AI in education raises critical ethical questions, particularly when it comes to research and writing. Liz Long’s article, The Research Paper Is Dead. Now What?, highlights the shifting landscape of academic integrity and how AI-generated content forces us to reconsider the traditional research paper. Rather than seeing AI as a threat, educators can use this moment to redesign assignments that foster originality, curiosity, and deeper analysis. The key ethical challenge is ensuring that students don’t just rely on AI-generated text but instead use it as a tool to enhance their own thinking. By crafting assignments that demand higher-order skills—such as evaluating sources, synthesizing multiple perspectives, and constructing well-supported arguments—educators can maintain academic integrity while embracing the realities of AI in education.
Reading Corner:
Here are some further readings on redesigning lessons and research in the Age of AI.
Creating AI-Resistant Assignments, Activities, and Assessments – This article discusses proactive steps instructors can take to design assignments that are more resistant to academic dishonesty in the age of AI. (nmu.edu)
4 Steps to Design an AI-Resilient Learning Experience – A research-backed guide to designing AI-resilient learning experiences that help students succeed in this AI-powered era. (mitsloanedtech.mit.edu)
Strategies for Designing AI-Resistant Assignments – This resource offers strategies to discourage AI use and increase student motivation to do the work without AI assistance. (genai.uchicago.edu)
Digital Thriving – This Harvard Graduate School of Education platform offers research-backed insights, practical strategies, and real-world examples to help educators, students, and families navigate the digital landscape. (digitalthriving.gse.harvard.edu)
AI isn’t the end of research—it’s an opportunity to rethink how we teach students to analyze, synthesize, and create knowledge. By adapting assignments to require deeper engagement and reflection, educators can ensure students develop skills that AI can’t replicate.
What strategies are you using to evolve research assignments? Let’s continue the conversation.
Join The ISTE & SLJ Free Webinar: Everything AI in Education – March 17
Discover how artificial intelligence is reshaping classrooms, teacher preparation, and leadership in our upcoming free webinar. Join me and a panel of experts—including Victoria Thompson (author of Elevate Equity in Edtech), Vickie Echols (author of AI for School Leaders), and award-winning librarians Todd Burleson and Me—as we explore innovative approaches to using AI with students, streamlining educators’ task lists, and navigating ethical concerns in education. Moderated by Jean Darnell, Director of Library Science for Philadelphia Schools, this dynamic session is your chance to gain actionable insights and join the conversation on the future of education.