Book Title: Real Intelligence: Teaching in the Era of Generative AI

Authors: James F. McGrath and Ankur Gupta

Cover image for Real Intelligence: Teaching in the Era of Generative AI

Book Description: For teachers already facing the challenges of educating, the rise of artificial intelligence, especially in large language models (LLMs) such as ChatGPT, can seem overwhelming. As high school and college students become more proficient in using AI, their teachers can feel left behind—and at least some of them are panicking about it. Some are even quitting their jobs. That’s why authors James F. McGrath and Ankur Gupta have teamed up to write Real Intelligence: Teaching in the Age of AI. McGrath is a humanities professor who has taught across his university’s core curriculum; he had to learn quickly what LLMs can and cannot do, and has given talks on creative and effective pedagogy in the age of AI. Gupta is a computer science professor who understands the ins and outs of LLMs. Here they have teamed up to produce a book for nonspecialists on how to counteract—and even incorporate—this groundbreaking new technology.

Recommended citation:
McGrath, J. F., & Gupta, A. Real Intelligence: Teaching in the Era of Generative AI. PALNI Open Press. https://doi.org/10.59319/RQVO9604

License:
Creative Commons Attribution NoDerivatives

Contents

Book Information

Book Description

In Real Intelligence, the authors walk readers through the basics of what AI is and isn’t, and strategies educators can use not only to make sense of the technology, but even to acquaint students with it—on teachers’ own terms. The authors show readers ways of working with AI that make cheating with it far less practical or feasible for students, and even offers on ideas for how to help students engage with LLMs as conversation partners in their research. Indeed, this book will help teachers prepare students to live in a world with AI, and thus fulfill their calling to equip students for life in a changing world.

This challenge, like the others before it, requires us to think carefully about how we teach, how we test, and how we evaluate students. Even if AI were to disappear tomorrow, what the authors are arguing for would improve student learning.

For educators, for parents, for administrators, this is no time for panic—but it’s no time for business as usual, either. Instead, it’s time for a fresh look at the kind of learning that can navigate both the limits and the possibilities of AI, and thus prepare us all to understand the technology that is quickly becoming an unavoidable—and necessary—part of our lives.

Authors

James F. McGrath and Ankur Gupta

License

Icon for the Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License

Real Intelligence: Teaching in the Era of Generative AI by James F. McGrath and Ankur Gupta is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License, except where otherwise noted.

Subject

Education

Metadata

Title
Real Intelligence: Teaching in the Era of Generative AI
Authors
James F. McGrath and Ankur Gupta
License

Icon for the Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License

Real Intelligence: Teaching in the Era of Generative AI by James F. McGrath and Ankur Gupta is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License, except where otherwise noted.

Primary Subject
Education
Additional Subject(s)
Artificial intelligence, Educational: Technology
Publisher
PALNI Open Press
Publication Date
September 17, 2025
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
https://doi.org/10.59319/RQVO9604
Ebook ISBN
978-1-956390-60-5