Problems on the Path: Generative A.I. and Writing Assessment

Problems on the Path: Generative A.I. and Writing Assessment

From The English 101 Experiment by Monica Mankin

December 8, 2025 · 55 min · Season 3 · Episode 2

About this episode

The episode discusses the challenges of writing assessment in the context of generative A.I. and its implications for education.

In this episode of The English 101 Experiment , Monica and Mason talk with colleague Ari Zeiger about the problems arising in the writing classroom in the age of generative A.I. The conversation doesn’t rush toward solutions; instead, it explores the long-held assumptions that AI now unsettles—the belief that students must write independently, that a polished final product reliably measures learning, that familiar essay formats are inherently meaningful, and that originality and authorship are straightforward. As language automation reveals the limits of product-based, formulaic assignments, questions around labor, integrity, and what we’re actually assessing become increasingly urgent. While Monica shares glimpses of her emerging AI-integrated assessments, this episode remains rooted in inquiry, pausing to consider what writing assessment exposes about itself as AI reshapes the landscape beneath us.

People in this episode

Hosts: Monica Mankin, Mason

Guest: Ari Zeiger

Topics covered

  • generative AI
  • writing assessment
  • education
  • authorship
  • integrity
  • language automation

Keywords

  • generative AI
  • writing assessment
  • education
  • authorship
  • integrity
  • language automation
  • student writing

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