Reclaiming the writing process using AI: a scaffolded writing assignment that promotes critical thinking, reflection,...

As the educational landscape changes with the widespread use of generative artificial intelligence (AI), we have made the deliberate choice to adapt with intention through the constructive integration of this tool within the curriculum. Writing assignments are often vulnerable to AI shortcuts, and therefore, we reimagined the project in our online microbiology lab to incorporate AI in a structured and pedagogically sound way that prioritizes both the writing process and the final product. Students must work with AI to create a script for a 5-minute video which they then illustrate and record on the differences between Staphylococcus aureus and methicillin-resistant S. aureus. The drafting process is highly structured and provides a scaffold for students to reflect on their own knowledge, think critically about AI outputs, develop AI literacy skills, and engage in self-reflection. Students are graded based on their involvement in this modified writing process rather than the final product. Subsequently, students create illustrations and record their 5-minute video; engaging in this verbal and visual communication helps reinforce student learning. Surveys conducted in the Fall 2025 semester suggest that the assignment reinforced student content understanding and reiterated the importance of responsible AI use. Additionally, students self-reported increased confidence in their prompt engineering skills. This assignment achieves student engagement and fosters the growth of AI literacy without compromising critical thinking or scholarly diligence. It can be adapted to different fields and topics and showcases a purposeful, strategic, and thoughtful incorporation of AI in undergraduate education.