Blog #5 - Auf Weidersehen

 I had no real expectations of what I would learn in English 3450. I never preread syllabi or anything like that, but I was surprised by the course. It was rigorous in terms of workload, but the content was also very informative. I've had to read and use sources before, even research papers, but stepping into the actual process and learning what is required to create a meaningful and complete proposal was very illuminating. I've taken science courses and so knew about qualitative or quantitative data, but having those things I "knew" framed for my major made it so that it mattered again. I always forget how absolutely all-encompassing the net that is technical writing is cast. Hearing everyone's ideas for their own proposals definitely solidified that idea. I've also definitely learned that it's really frustrating to find valuable sources to corroborate your point because everyone locks their research behind a paywall. To be more serious, I learned much about the thought process required to take a mere theory or question and evolve it into a potential study. Not only is this a valuable lesson as the time when I must create my capstone project draws closer, but also as I prepare for the professional field. By having this personal insight, I am a more valuable asset. It's not just something for transcribing or whatever other responsibility it becomes, but rather someone's attempt to contribute to the field as a whole, and deserves the accuracy and respect that something like this begs. It also highlighted some personal weak points I had to struggle through, but that's for me to handle elsewhere

Anywho, that's all that's really left for this blog. Goodbye.

Blog #4 - Revisions

 My current laid plans need to be shaken up due to a slight oversight in my planning. I have modified the research question to focus more on a PTW topic. It is now "Does using AI writing tools help or hinder Utah Tech students’ readiness for professional and technical communication in the workplace?" This question is more specific and makes for more measurable material. I also have my research questions mapped. The most significant revision will come with the lit review. I missed the part of the rubric that asked for three PTW sources, and so I need to switch out some of the weaker sources for those that fit the parameters of the assignment. I have a lot of work to do on that anyway, as it is way too long and slightly confused. I'll follow the notes left on the physical copy, as well as add those sources I find later. It's the exact work I planned on doing anyway.

Blog #3 - Research Gaps

 The research gap I am exploring exists as an empirical gap. The study of how many students of each academic year and major use AI and to what degree has been done in a few forms across different organizations and subjects. However, there hasn't been one done at Utah Tech University. By completing this research, it can be added to the pool of study matter as well as in finding ways to help shape the future use of AI in the education of students at all levels.

Blog #2 - Potential Sources and Why

Topic: Utah Tech Students' Use of AI

Goal: Find out to what degree students of Utah Tech are using AI, GPT, or LLMs in their academic or personal lives.

1.   Contractor, Zara, and Germán Reyes. Generative AI in Higher Education: Evidence from an Elite College. IZA - Institute of Labor Economics, 2025. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/resrep71911. Accessed 9 Sept. 2025. This paper has already done research at 80 different colleges about AI, but focuses on how to implement its use without compromising higher learning
2. Nathan Ayele. The Usage of New AI Technologies by College Students and Its Influence on Learning and Dependence. 2024. Honors Projects: Open Access (2019-present). Caldwell University Archives, JSTOR, https://jstor.org/stable/community.37312334. Accessed 9 Sept. 2025. This paper uses the same study that claims 80% of college students use AI. It tests that AI was able to help improve scores, but dependency on AI learning rose too high, preventing critical thinking skills
3. De Spiegeleire, Stephan, et al. “WHAT IS ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE?” ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE AND THE FUTURE OF DEFENSE: STRATEGIC IMPLICATIONS FOR SMALL- AND MEDIUM-SIZED FORCE PROVIDERS, Hague Centre for Strategic Studies, 2017, pp. 25–42. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/resrep12564.7. Accessed 9 Sept. 2025. This paper gives us better definitions of what AI actually is. It is important to define the breadth of AI discussed.
4. Bick, Alexander, et al. “The Rapid Adoption of Generative AI.” SSRN Electronic Journal, 2024, https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.4964384. This is the study most of the other papers are getting their numbers from. It will be important for me to understand their methods
5. UNESCO. “Regulating the Use of Generative AI in Education.” Guidance for Generative AI in Education and Research, UNESCO, 2023, pp. 18–23. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/resrep70313.9. Accessed 9 Sept. 2025. Ethics and moral standing with AI in education
6. https://utahtech.edu/ai/ I am not out to get anyone in trouble, as this will be anonymous, but this is the question. Is this being followed? Where are the strong/weak points
7. Hu, De-Xin, et al. “Evaluating the Effects of Generative AI on Student Learning Outcomes: Insights from a Meta-Analysis.” Educational Technology & Society, vol. 28, no. 3, 2025, pp. 226–40. JSTOR, https://www.jstor.org/stable/48827959. Accessed 9 Sept. 2025. What are the learning trends due to different levels of AI use?

Blog #1 - Topic Interests

Potential topic ideas:

    I could definitely write a report on Utah Tech's website's functionality. I could structure my personal experience and get people from various backgrounds to try to find 3-5 locations. They could be timed, and the total number of links pressed could be measured. Teachers, staff, students, strangers, UI design students, music students, and math students. Is a low click rate due to the page being hard to find, or simply because few people need it? 

    Another good one is deconstructing Spencer Cox's recent proposal to sell public lands, which was thankfully shot down from the BBB. Hidden agenda and who was most motivated and by what reason. Why was their propaganda so effective? This wasn't a liberal/conservative split. It was personal or research-based.

    Something more relevant to tech writing is the "dead internet "theory. It is estimated that 50% of all internet interactions are computer-to-computer, with no humans involved. Is this bloat necessary or leftover innovation?