MEDIA, PA — As artificial intelligence rapidly transforms education and the workplace, a Delaware County Community College professor is taking a proactive approach by teaching students how to use AI responsibly, rather than banning it from the classroom.
Dr. Susan E. Ray, associate professor of English at DCCC and a national consultant on college AI instruction, argues that ethical AI literacy is essential for both students and educators. “My classrooms are filled with recent high school graduates who have been taught that AI is little more than a contentious cheating machine,” Ray said. “The truth is there will always be a need for critical thinking — and students can learn how to use AI as a tutor, not a solution.”
Integrating AI Into the Curriculum
With full support from DCCC, Ray has embedded AI tools into her English courses, allowing students to explore its capabilities while learning the boundaries of ethical use. A spring 2025 survey of her students revealed that 82% felt positive about using AI in college courses, yet 42% had never been taught how to use it effectively before.
Ray received a Carter Center for Excellence mini-grant to support this initiative, funding OpenAI subscriptions, integration of Pangram — an AI detection and feedback tool — and the creation of a faculty resource hub to guide other educators.
Promising Results from Early Trials
This summer, Ray piloted a fully AI-integrated accelerated English Composition II course and saw notable results: 100% retention, no academic integrity violations, and higher rates of A and B grades compared to previous terms. Students praised the hands-on approach. “At first I was wary of using it,” one student said, “but I now feel more confident as a writer and a thinker.”
Her teaching model encourages curiosity-driven exploration. In the first week, students uploaded the syllabus into ChatGPT to analyze how the course might align with their strengths and challenges. According to Ray, this helped students feel more prepared before diving into the coursework.
National Recognition and Leadership
Ray’s innovative approach has drawn national attention. In August, she was invited to serve as a faculty consultant for the American Association of Colleges and Universities (AAC&U) 2025–2026 Institute on AI, Pedagogy, and the Curriculum. She is among the first community college professors selected for this role, joining peers from institutions such as Berkeley College, the University of Central Oklahoma, and the University of Georgia.
Preparing Students for an AI-Driven Future
Ray’s coursework integrates creative assignments designed to deepen critical thinking. In one exercise, students developed high school lesson plans for A Streetcar Named Desire, incorporating AI-based activities like rewriting scenes as text messages, designing chatbots for characters, and staging mock therapy sessions.
“It’s about helping students use AI in ways that deepen their thinking, not replace it,” Ray said. “By teaching them to engage with AI transparently and responsibly, we close gaps in digital literacy and prepare them for a future where AI is already reshaping the workplace.”
For Ray, the goal is clear: to ensure students aren’t just AI consumers but skilled, ethical users ready to navigate — and thrive in — an increasingly digital world.
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