gAI in teaching and learning requires local dialogue, not just shared guidelines
Generative AI is changing teaching and assessment. A new COBL analysis shows why local dialogue is needed if rules are to become meaningful practice.
Generative AI has rapidly changed the conditions for teaching, assignment writing, and assessment. Rules and declaration requirements are now in place, but one central question remains: How are these rules translated into practice when teachers assess assignments where gAI is permitted?
A recent COBL analysis suggests that the main challenge is not a lack of rules. Rather, the challenge lies in how they are interpreted and used meaningfully within specific academic environments.
The analysis is based on interviews with teachers at SUND and reveals a clear pattern: many are familiar with the overall framework but remain uncertain about how it should be applied in teaching, feedback, and assessment. What role should the use of gAI play in grading? What exactly are we assessing: the final product, the process, or the student’s academic judgement? And when does gAI serve as support, and when does it change the nature of the performance itself?
When answers to these questions are not clarified collectively, local interpretations emerge. The analysis shows that many of these discussions take place informally between colleagues. This is valuable, but not sufficient if the university aims for a more coherent practice. The result may be considerable variation across courses, teachers, and academic environments — and uncertainty for both teachers and students.
This is why more is needed than central guidelines alone. There is a need for organised local discussions within academic environments - for example in course teams, subject-matter expert groups, study boards, or faculty development days - where teachers can work together to clarify how the rules should be understood and applied in their own subject-matter context.
COBL can help facilitate these conversations.
If you would like to start a local discussion about how gAI rules can be translated into meaningful and academically responsible practice, COBL is happy to support the process through dialogue and facilitation.