The Writing About Writing (WAW) Standing Group recently hosted an insightful discussion with Beth Boswell that challenged prevailing perspectives on generative AI tools like Chat-GPT. While many critics dismiss these technologies as “basic,” “robotic,” or “mediocre,” Boswell’s presentation illuminated their strengths and potential roles in educational spaces.

In this video, Boswell explore how generative AI can function effectively as a “reader” and its implications for designing writing instruction. The workshop provided a practical framework for instructors to decode disciplinary values embedded in assignment prompts and rubrics, recognize biases and assumptions about student prior knowledge, and rethink the role of peer review in the context of evolving AI capabilities.