The Impact of AI in the Classroom: Experiences and Learnings

Gen AI is a fast-moving and transformative force across education. With AI now available to students for more than two years, data is emerging that sheds light on its impact on students and their research behaviors. ProQuest, part of Clarivate, is carefully gathering data, using the insights to evolve the resources that academic libraries make available to their users.

The company shares what it’s learning with librarians through a regular series of webinars on academic AI, including one held in partnership with ACRL Choice in March 2025, entitled "The impact of AI in the classroom: Experiences and learnings." You can watch the webinar on demand here or read on to learn some of its key takeaways.

Students Are Embracing AI… For the Right Reasons

One of the central themes of the webinar was the exploration of student use of generative AI tools. According to a survey from the Digital Education Council , a significant portion of students are already integrating AI into their academic routines: 86% of higher education students across 16 countries use AI tools in their studies, with most using them at least weekly.

Concerns about academic dishonesty and the potential overreliance on AI tools continue. Yet, recent studies indicate that the advent of ChatGPT has not led to an increase in college student cheating; in fact, some data suggests a slight decline. Research from Stanford University shows that the percentage of students engaging in cheating behaviors has remained stable or even decreased slightly since ChatGPT was introduced. Additionally, a study from the University of the Basque Country found that ChatGPT usage accounts for only 3.9% of student plagiarism behavior, with factors like peer influence and lack of motivation being much stronger predictors of academic dishonesty. These findings suggest that concerns about AI tools driving a surge in cheating may be overstated.

Indeed, students are mastering AI tools, often outpacing faculty in their proficiency. They use AI for various academic purposes, such as explaining concepts, checking grammar, summarizing articles, brainstorming, coding assistance and assignment help. However, students also express a desire for clearer guidance on ethical AI use and its integration into their studies.

The Digital Education Council's survey revealed that many students view AI as a double-edged sword. Some see it as a creativity killer, while others appreciate its potential to streamline tasks and enhance learning. There mixed feelings highlight the importance of fostering AI literacy among students, helping them understand when and how to use AI tools effectively.

Faculty Perspectives on AI

Faculty members have similar feelings about AI in the classroom. While some see AI as a potential threat to critical thinking and academic integrity, others recognize its potential to streamline work and enhance learning.

Not surprisingly, they want AI tools to support, not replace, deep learning and research literacy. They are interested in structured, transparent AI use in assignments and seek clearer policies before implementing AI in their courses. This highlights the need for ongoing dialogue and collaboration between faculty, students and AI tool developers to ensure that AI is used responsibly and effectively in the classroom. It also points to an opportunity for libraries to play an important role in building AI literacy among students and faculty.

Librarians' Role in AI Adoption

Haley Lott, a Research and Student Engagement Librarian at Roger Williams University, champions the importance of guiding students in the responsible use of AI tools. Librarians are seen as trusted tech experts on campus, putting them in an ideal position to share understanding of AI tools, advocate for privacy and AI literacy and provide training to both students and faculty.

Webinar participants learned about Lott’s journey of integrating AI into the campus environment, and the different stages of AI adoption at her institution. She noted that AI conversations are shaped by institutional context, with each institution being at a different point in AI adoption. Like all emerging technologies, AI will require a tailored approach to integration – one shaped by conversations and research that reveal the unique needs and challenges of each educational institution.

ProQuest Research Assistant: A Case Study

The webinar also featured a case study on ProQuest Research Assistant, an AI-powered tool designed to assist students throughout their research workflow. The tool harnesses AI's capabilities to help students craft more effective searches, analyze documents and understand key concepts. As students become more and more adept with AI tools, the UX team behind ProQuest Research Assistant gathers their feedback to assess where the tool is working and where there are opportunities to improve. For example, feedback shows that students are saving time and streamlining their research workflow with guidance from the tool. Suggestions for improvements include increasing interactivity and customization and ensuring references to original texts are included. These insights are being used to shape the tool as the needs of students and educators evolve.

Normalize the AI Conversation

Students crave guidance on how to use AI responsibly. Educators – librarians, particularly – can answer that need by normalizing the AI conversation: Include training in tutoring sessions and writing workshops, set clear expectations and provide guidance that helps students understand the value of AI as a tool for learning success rather than a shortcut.

Experience Academic AI

ProQuest Research Assistant, now available in select ProQuest solutions, responsibly and reliably harnesses AI’s capabilities to support and guide users throughout their learning and research journeys. Learn more and request free trials for ProQuest resources with ProQuest Research Assistant.