Majority of assessment must return to the classroom

In the age of AI tools like ChatGPT, a provocative argument has emerged: If it can be ChatGPTed, it shouldn’t be taught or tested. However, this perspective is flawed. While students can now Google or use ChatGPT to access much of the foundational knowledge we once memorized, it doesn’t mean they shouldn’t learn it. Foundational knowledge remains essential—it serves as the scaffolding that supports deeper understanding, critical thinking, and problem-solving.

In my Numerical Methods course, I take a deliberate approach. Students are only allowed to use the TI-30Xa calculator—a basic, non-programmable tool. This restriction is because they need to understand the fundamental algorithms behind the math. I encourage them to use the same calculator at home for homework and studying. Sure, they can find homework answers online, but homework is only 15% of the grade. The rest is structured to promote authentic learning: 10% comes from projects that are too specific to be easily ChatGPTed, and 75% is based on in-class assessments. To make this work, we need to increase classroom contact time and design more ChatGPT-less activities—those that require students to think, apply, and engage without relying on AI shortcuts.

In my Mechanics of Composites course, I use a similar grading structure. However, I allow any calculator approved for the FE exam. I’m no longer interested in testing whether students can integrate by hand. Instead, I focus on whether they understand the concepts behind composite materials. Again, 80% of the grade is based on in-class tests.

We don’t hand a first grader a calculator to add two numbers. Why? They need to understand what the concept of addition is before they can use a tool to perform it more efficiently. The same principle applies in college: Use the right tools at the right time, not the whole kitchen sink. AI is here to stay. But instead of fearing it, we need to rethink how we teach and assess. This rethinking begins by bringing assessment back into the classroom, where genuine learning takes place.

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