Generative AI forces educators to address student motivation

The rise of generative AI, capable of drafting essays and solving equations instantly, is forcing educators to confront long-standing issues regarding student motivation and engagement.

As a case study in meaningful engagement, sociology teacher Alex Campbell at Elizabethton High School in Tennessee utilized a high-stakes project involving the unsolved ‘Redhead Murders’ cold cases. His students conducted deep investigative work, interviewed an FBI profiler, and developed a theory supported by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation. This project resulted in a true-crime podcast and an Amazon Prime TV series, demonstrating that students are willing to undertake difficult work when they are deeply invested in the subject matter.