Composition
Writing-as-thinking
English 101: The Source-Based Paper
You work late, your paper is due soon, and AI can either help you reason through your own draft or produce text that is not yours.
Choose your own AI path
The Co-Pilot or the Shortcut?
Make realistic coursework decisions and see how AI choices affect learning, academic integrity, and confidence when the next exam, draft, or workplace task arrives.
Complete both scenarios in order
This activity starts with the English 101 composition scenario, then continues to the college algebra exam-prep scenario. You must enter a reflection after each scenario before moving forward.
Algebra
Desirable difficulty
College Algebra: The Exam Prep Week
You need to prepare for a proctored exam. This scenario unlocks after the composition reflection is submitted.
Learning strength50
Integrity standing50
Real confidence50
Pause and explain your judgment
Debrief
What your choices show
What
Knowing AI tools exist is only the first layer of AI literacy.
How
Stronger choices used AI for feedback, explanation, practice, and questions while you still did the core work.
When and why
The most responsible choices depended on context: course policy, learning goal, disclosure, and whether AI replaced your thinking.
Your path
Certificate of completion
AI Coursework Choices Adventure
completed both required scenarios and submitted reflections on ethical AI use in composition and algebra coursework.
Source-informed design notes
- Uses scenario-based learning so students make choices and see consequences, matching the module design guidance for practical ethical judgment.
- Frames AI as co-pilot versus shortcut or ghostwriter, with consequences tied to cognitive offloading, desirable difficulty, writing-as-thinking, and illusion of mastery.
- Prompts declarative, procedural, and conditional thinking: what AI can do, how it is being used, and when or why that use is appropriate.
- Uses short, mobile-friendly screens, plain language, formative feedback, and reflective prompts for community college learners.
- Includes performance-style choices and reflection because the meta-analysis found AI literacy interventions vary by context and should move beyond recall toward skills, ethics, attitudes, and reflective application.