Navigating AI in Higher Education: Student Views on Professors' Attitude of AI Tools in the Classroom Analyzed through Sentiment Analysis and Topic Modeling

• In Event: Technology and Student Learning

Abstract

This study explores students’ perceptions of professors’ attitudes toward generative AI in higher education by analyzing Reddit posts. While interest in AI is growing, research on how students view faculty engagement with AI in teaching remains limited. We apply fuzzy matching to filter posts, then use sentiment analysis and topic modeling to identify emotional tones and key themes in student discussions. Results show a range of sentiments from skepticism to cautious optimism, with academic integrity and ethics as central concerns. Students often perceive faculty attitudes through disciplinary actions rather than open dialogue about AI’s educational potential. These findings underscore the need for more communication and support to better align faculty and student perspectives on AI integration in academia.

Authors

• Xingchen Wei, Vanderbilt University

• Jialing Wu, The Ohio State University