The QA Commons is mindful of the dramatic and transformational impact COVID-19 is having on all institutions of higher education. As an organization, we are adapting our services to support preparing graduates for the workplace that is now changing more precipitously than ever.
Imagine walking into a workplace where your new hire refuses to use email because they think it’s cheating. Sounds ridiculous? Well, that’s how it feels when recent graduates resist AI—which has quickly become a powerful and essential workplace tool. Like it or not, it’s here, and it’s changing how work gets done. And yet, we continue to hear educators railing against AI as an evil tool for plagiarism, a shortcut that students use to avoid thinking for themselves, and a threat to learning.
Of course, students need to learn to write in their own voice, think critically and independently, and develop original ideas. But let’s be clear: educators who define AI solely as a tool for academic dishonesty are missing the bigger picture. AI is much more than a glorified essay-writing machine. It’s a research assistant, a brainstorming partner, a tutor, a data analyzer, a workflow optimizer, a translator, a coding assistant, a design tool, and so much more.
That doesn’t mean AI needs to be integrated into every single class—but it does need a place in the curriculum. Students should graduate with a working knowledge of how to use AI effectively, ethically, and creatively in the workplace. Unfortunately, many educators don’t understand AI themselves, let alone teach their students how to leverage it. And teaching AI requires more than a simple lesson on “hallucinations.” It demands hands-on engagement, critical discussion, and real-world applications.
At QA Commons, we’ve hired young graduates, and combatting their fear of AI has been tough. We need them to know how to use it—adeptly, creatively, and with a keen ethical lens. Hesitation to engage with AI puts individuals at a severe disadvantage in the workplace. From an employer’s perspective, it’s exasperating.
The workplace isn’t waiting for the education system to catch up. AI is already embedded in workflows across industries, streamlining operations, enhancing innovation, and enabling workers to do more in less time. Adaptability has always been key to employability, and today, AI literacy is digital literacy—one of QA Commons’ eight Essential Employability Qualities (EEQs). Understanding how to interact with AI, assess its outputs, and apply it responsibly is as fundamental as knowing how to navigate spreadsheets, conduct online research, or communicate professionally.
The best educators aren’t banning AI—they’re figuring out how to use it effectively in the classroom. They teach students how to leverage AI for better thinking, deeper learning, and real-world problem-solving. For example:
These educators aren’t shying away from AI. They’re using it strategically—and helping students understand its power and pitfalls.
If you’re an educator who hasn’t seriously explored AI, start now! Play with it. Test it. Break it. Figure out what it can and can’t do. And then, where appropriate, incorporate it into your teaching.
The workplace has already adapted to AI. The question is: Will our education system keep up? If we don’t prepare students to use AI thoughtfully and strategically, we’re failing them.
AI is here to stay. Just use it.
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