Written by Courtland Bovee and John Thill
As artificial intelligence becomes increasingly central to business communication, instructors must help students develop AI literacy from the very start of their courses. Here's what students need to understand about AI in their first week of class to lay the foundation for successful learning and professional development. This article is a reflection of the contents of our new, 16th Edition of Business Communication Today by Bovee and Thill (Pearson). Available March 2025.
Understanding What AI Is (and Isn't)
Students need to grasp that generative AI is fundamentally a pattern-recognition tool that uses statistical analysis to predict word sequences based on its training data. It's crucial that they understand AI doesn't "think" like humans do – it makes statistical predictions about which words are likely to appear together based on patterns in its training data. This understanding helps prevent both overreliance on AI and unrealistic expectations about its capabilities.
The Role of AI in Business Communication
Students should learn that AI is becoming a standard business tool, not an optional technology. They need to understand its key applications:
Content development and brainstorming
Knowledge management and information retrieval
Data analysis and insight generation
Message personalization and localization
Communication efficiency enhancement
Professional skill development
Critical Skills for Working with AI
Three fundamental skills should be introduced immediately:
Prompt Writing: Students need to learn that effective prompts are specific, detailed, and goal-oriented. They should understand that treating AI as a capable research partner who needs clear direction produces the best results.
Output Evaluation: Students must develop the habit of critically evaluating AI-generated content by asking:
Is it factually accurate?
Does it flow logically?
Are sources verifiable?
Does it show any biases?
Is it relevant to the original prompt?
Collaborative Usage: Students should understand that AI works best as a complement to human skills, not a replacement. They need to learn to combine AI's information processing capabilities with their own critical thinking and emotional intelligence.
Ethical Considerations
First-week instruction should cover key ethical considerations:
The importance of transparency when using AI
The risk of misinformation and hallucinations
Privacy concerns when sharing information with AI systems
The need to verify AI-generated content
The importance of maintaining authentic human connections
Potential biases in AI-generated content
Professional Responsibility
Students must understand their professional responsibilities when using AI:
Verifying accuracy of AI-generated content
Following organizational policies about AI usage
Maintaining their own skill development
Using AI to enhance rather than replace human communication
Protecting confidential information
Understanding legal implications of AI usage
Practical Guidelines for Success
Provide students with these essential guidelines:
Always verify facts from AI-generated content
Use AI as a starting point, not a final product
Maintain your own writing and critical thinking skills
Stay current with AI capabilities and limitations
Follow institutional and organizational AI policies
Use AI to enhance, not replace, human connection
Looking Forward
Help students understand that AI literacy is now as fundamental as digital literacy. They should view AI as a powerful tool that, when used thoughtfully, can enhance their professional capabilities while maintaining their unique human perspectives and skills.
By covering these fundamentals in the first week, instructors can help students develop a balanced, informed approach to using AI in their academic and professional lives. This foundation will serve them well as they navigate the increasingly AI-enhanced field of business communication
Practical Learning Activities for Teaching AI in Business Communication
Individual Skill-Building Exercises
1. AI Prompt Engineering Practice
Have students write prompts for the same business task (like creating a meeting agenda) and compare results
Ask students to progressively refine prompts to improve output quality
Practice providing context, examples, and specific requirements in prompts
Compare results from different AI tools using identical prompts
2. Critical Evaluation Exercises
Present students with AI-generated content containing deliberate errors or biases
Have students verify AI-generated citations and sources
Ask students to compare multiple AI-generated responses to the same prompt
Practice identifying hallucinations in AI-generated content
3. Writing Enhancement Activities
Submit sample writing to AI for evaluation and improvement suggestions
Practice revising AI-generated content to add personal voice and style
Create hybrid content combining human and AI writing
Compare original writing, AI-generated content, and hybrid approaches
4. Professional Development Tasks
Use AI to analyze personal communication patterns and receive feedback
Practice writing professional emails with and without AI assistance
Create presentation outlines using AI as a brainstorming partner
Develop business proposals combining human expertise with AI support
Team-Based Activities
1. Collaborative AI Projects
Teams use different AI tools for the same task and compare results
Groups collaborate to develop best practices for AI usage
Create team guidelines for ethical AI use in business communication
Practice group decision-making about when to use AI versus human-only content
2. Case Study Analysis
Analyze real-world examples of AI successes and failures in business communication
Study ethics cases related to AI use in corporate settings
Examine privacy and security implications of AI in business
Evaluate company policies on AI usage
3. Role-Playing Scenarios
Practice explaining AI-generated content to stakeholders
Simulate client meetings where AI tools are used responsibly
Act out scenarios involving ethical dilemmas in AI usage
Demonstrate proper disclosure of AI use in various business contexts
Class Discussion Topics
1. Ethical Considerations
When and how to disclose AI use in business communication
Balancing efficiency with authenticity in communication
Managing privacy concerns when using AI tools
Addressing potential biases in AI-generated content
2. Professional Integration
Identifying appropriate uses of AI in different business contexts
Developing policies for AI use in professional settings
Managing stakeholder expectations regarding AI usage
Maintaining human connections while leveraging AI capabilities
3. Future Implications
Discussing the evolution of business communication with AI
Exploring emerging AI tools and capabilities
Considering the impact of AI on various business roles
Preparing for changes in communication practices
Assessment Activities
1. Portfolio Development
Create a portfolio demonstrating effective AI use in various business contexts
Document the process of refining AI prompts and outputs
Showcase examples of hybrid human-AI content creation
Reflect on lessons learned and best practices discovered
2. Practical Applications
Complete real-world business communication tasks using AI appropriately
Develop company policies for AI usage
Create training materials for new AI users
Design communication strategies incorporating AI tools
3. Evaluation Exercises
Assess the quality of AI-generated content
Compare effectiveness of different AI tools
Evaluate ethical implications of AI use cases
Review and critique AI implementation strategies
Implementation Guidelines
For Instructors
1. Start with basic AI literacy before moving to advanced applications
2. Emphasize hands-on experience with various AI tools
3. Incorporate regular ethical discussions throughout the course
4. Provide clear guidelines for AI use in assignments
5. Focus on developing critical thinking alongside AI skills
For Students
1. Maintain logs of AI interactions and learnings
2. Document successful and unsuccessful AI strategies
3. Practice regular self-reflection on AI use
4. Develop personal guidelines for AI integration
5. Build a toolkit of effective prompts and approaches
These activities should be integrated progressively throughout the course, building from basic understanding to advanced applications. Regular reflection and adjustment of activities based on student progress and emerging AI capabilities is recommended.
Note: The guidance provided in this article is based upon the content in the new, 16th Edition of Business Communication Today, by Bovee and Thill (Pearson). Available March 2025.
