UWP Study Pioneers AI-Integrated Pedagogy for Professional Writing Courses

  • by Viktor Manuel Pertl
Publications (6)

GIFT-AI: teaching the game and leveling the field: Peer and AI Review + Reflection in a business writing course

  • Author(s): Marit Macarthur, Sophia Minnillo, Lisa Sperber, Carl Whithaus, and Nicholas Stillman
  • Source: Frontiers in Communication, sec. Culture and Communication, Volume 10, Sep 2025
  • DOI:  https://doi.org/10.3389/fcomm.2025.1615752
  • Published: September 2025

 

As generative AI tools become increasingly common in academic and professional settings, educators face a pressing question: How should AI be addressed in writing instruction? Faculty, lecturers, and graduate students in the University Writing Program have developed an innovative solution—one that not only incorporates AI into the classroom but also teaches students to critically engage with it.

In a recently published study, the team introduced the Peer and AI Review + Reflection (PAIRR) model, a tested approach designed to integrate AI feedback into writing curricula. The model was implemented in a 2024 Business Writing course with 34 students, offering a structured way to combine human and AI perspectives in the writing process.

The PAIRR model unfolds in several stages:

  1. Students draft major writing assignments and participate in peer review.
  2. They then seek criteria-based feedback from a chatbot on the same draft.
  3. Students reflect on and assess both sets of feedback, creating a revision plan.
  4. After revising, they write a second reflection detailing how peer and AI feedback shaped their revisions.

This process encourages students to interrogate AI-generated suggestions critically, build AI literacy, and maintain ownership of their writing voice and goals. The study highlights PAIRR’s effectiveness in guiding students to use AI responsibly and thoughtfully. It also addresses challenges faced by multilingual international students, demonstrating how the model can support diverse learners in professional writing contexts. Beyond Business Writing, PAIRR shows promise for a wide range of writing courses.

By fostering critical thinking and adaptability, the University Writing Program is helping students navigate the evolving landscape of writing in the age of AI—ensuring that technology becomes a tool for learning, not a substitute for human judgment.