Ep 2: "The Point Is How You Make It"—Authorship and Agency in the Time of AI
Welcome back to Faculty Lounge! In this week's episode, Beth and Margie ease in with a quick catch-up—spring weather, pickleball woes, and feeling ready for summer—before diving into what’s happening this week in CETL.
They highlight ongoing CETL programming, including weekly coffee hours (with snacks, always!), the final session in the AI series Reimagining Teaching with AI, and a faculty development session focused on promotion and tenure. They also preview the upcoming book read of The Opposite of Cheating, which sparks larger conversations around academic integrity, assessment, and teaching in the age of AI.
The episode then shifts into a conversation with our UI Writing Center leaders—Emma Catherine Perryand Miriam Åkervall—who share their paths to the University of Idaho and their current work supporting student writers. Together, the group explores how AI is showing up in student writing, what faculty are navigating in real time, and how the UI Writing Center is responding through workshops and support.
The conversation moves between campus-specific challenges and broader questions about authorship/agency, learning, and what “authentic” student work looks like now—often circling back to ideas that (coincidentally) align with the themes in the upcoming CETL book read.
If you’re thinking about AI in your classroom, curious how students are engaging with writing support, or just want to hear how these conversations are unfolding across campus, this episode offers a thoughtful (and very real) look behind the scenes.
Connect with Emma or Miriam: writingcenter@uidaho.edu [writingcenter@uidaho.edu]
Check out the Writing Center website: https://www.uidaho.edu/student-resources/academic-support/writing-center [https://www.uidaho.edu/student-resources/academic-support/writing-center]
Pour Another Cup: Recommended Readings
Listed in order of reference.
* Gallant, T. B., & Rettinger, D. A. (2023). The opposite of cheating: Teaching for integrity in the age of AI. Stylus Publishing. https://www.theoppositeofcheating.com [https://www.theoppositeofcheating.com/]
* Vee, A. (2025, May 12). How are students using AI? AI & How We Teach Writing: A NORTON Newsletter for AI Aware Teachers. https://aiandhowweteach.substack.com/p/how-are-students-using-ai [https://aiandhowweteach.substack.com/p/how-are-students-using-ai?utm_source=chatgpt.com]
* Glynn, P. (2026, March 20). Shy Girl by Mia Ballard: Horror novel pulled by publishers over alleged AI use. BBC News. https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c5y9d44jj24o [https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c5y9d44jj24o]
* Uenuma, F. (2026, January 15). Why the computer scientist behind the world’s first chatbot dedicated his life to publicizing the threat posed by A.I. Smithsonian Magazine. https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/why-the-computer-scientist-behind-the-worlds-first-chatbot-dedicated-his-life-to-publicizing-the-threat-posed-by-ai-180987971/ [https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/why-the-computer-scientist-behind-the-worlds-first-chatbot-dedicated-his-life-to-publicizing-the-threat-posed-by-ai-180987971/]
* EPOCH. (2024, February 19). Review: Blocks World by Emma Catherine Perry. https://www.epochliterary.com/blog/review-blocks-world-by-emma-catherine-perry [https://www.epochliterary.com/blog/review-blocks-world-by-emma-catherine-perry]
* Wikipedia contributors. Blocks world. Wikipedia.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blocks_world [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blocks_world]
