Technology in Second Language Learning
2024

Presenters: Dr. Lily Compton, Dr. Elena Cotos, Dr. Sarah Huffman, Maryam Saneie Moghadam, and Shangyu Jiang

Abstract: International graduate students pursuing degrees in a second-language medium confront a daunting challenge when it comes to preparing scholarly literature reviews for a research article, thesis, or dissertation. Activating advanced reading, writing, and critical thinking skills, academic literature review demands that these language learners integrate knowledge from multiple domains, including fundamental principles of research ethics and integrity. Can generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) technologies ethically, effectively, and efficiently facilitate literature review for graduate students without presenting a threat to the integrity of their research? In this paper, we examine how the literature review task can be deconstructed, and how our 3E heuristic tool for assessing ethicality, efficacy, and efficiency of GenAI use can help determine the appropriateness of GenAI facilitation of process components. We also describe an AI-facilitated literature review (AI-FLR) workshop to be piloted with Iowa State University graduate students in November 2024. The workshop development included establishing GenAI-facilitated task approaches within several process components, including classifying and mapping ideas from scholarly literature; comparing and contrasting viewpoints, findings, and interpretations; synthesizing meaning; and identifying problems, needs or gaps. Additionally, we describe assessment methods for seven learning objectives: 

1. Compare and contrast open and closed GenAI applications 

2. Hypothesize affordances of GenAI for different stages of a literature review 

3. Recall procedural steps to use a GenAI tool to conduct specific tasks 

4. Implement suggested prompts with GenAI tool 

5. Evaluate and critique retrieved results based on prompts 

6. Construct an original argument in response to the literature review prompt outputs of GenAI tool 

7. Critically reflect on own experience with GenAI tool 

These learning objectives aim to strengthen knowledge in two domains: conducting academic literature reviews and using GenAI tools to facilitate complex processes ethically, effectively, and efficiently. Our presentation will conclude with anticipated findings from our workshop pilot.