In the News: Wendy Paterson Weighs in on Artificial Intelligence in Education

Wendy Paterson, dean of Buffalo State University’s School of Education, was interviewed for the December 18 WGRZ-TV 2 coverage of artificial intelligence in schools. 

The video segment, “The Proper Use of Artificial Intelligence in Schools,” and accompanying article, “Discussions on Proper AI Use in Schools and in the Future: Buffalo State Education Dean,” by Ron Plants, explored how AI impacts both current students and the training of future teachers.

“We're learning what it can do,” Paterson said. “We're learning what it should not do. We're talking about ethics and integrity. We're talking about plagiarism. But we're also talking about creativity and adaptive technology.”

Paterson explained how she uses AI tools like ChatGPT as a learning tool with teacher candidate students, discussed how she would approach suspected AI-assisted plagiarism, and highlighted the potential for AI to benefit students with disabilities.

“Adaptive technology [is] helping students with disabilities to be able to do those things that perhaps they cannot do without technical assistance,” she said. “We just need to find the sweet spot. Where is it that we can take advantage of this amazing tool so that it helps us to do our job which is to develop these human beings into critical thinkers, active citizens and persons with integrity and honesty.”