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By Jeff Maggioncalda, CEO Coursera
Today, we’re excited to announce several new genAI-powered features designed to scale assessment creation and grading, strengthen academic integrity, and enhance learning and evaluation. These features, including AI-Assisted Grading, Proctoring and Lockdown Browser, and AI-based Viva Exams will help campuses deliver authentic learning to students while increasing the value of online assessments, courses, and certificates.
Online learning has become a powerful tool for institutions to better prepare students for a rapidly changing world. However, universities must ensure it meets the rigorous standards required for academic credit. While Generative AI introduces new risks for student misconduct, it also provides unprecedented opportunities for universities to enhance academic integrity at scale.
The features we launch today illustrate how new technologies can support a more authentic, verified learning experience for students, educators, and employers.
Scale Assessment Creation and Grading:
- AI Assessment Generator – Saves educators’ time by generating diverse math, text, and multiple-choice assessments tailored to courses and seamlessly integrating them into assignments.
- Question Banks and Variants – Provides a variety of questions and multiple variants for robust testing, making exams difficult to predict and easier to author.
- *AI-Assisted Grading – Streamlines grading by suggesting scores and feedback based on assignment analysis, with final decisions remaining with graders.
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AI Assessment Generator
Strengthen Academic Integrity:
- Graded Item Locking – Requires students to complete each lesson item, including readings, videos, and labs, to unlock graded items, promoting comprehensive learning and preventing skipping ahead.
- Time and Attempt Limits – Controls exam attempts to ensure fairness, discourage trial and error, and limit outside resource access, encouraging meaningful engagement and reflection.
- Proctoring and Lockdown Browser – Maintains exam integrity by blocking unauthorized resources and detecting unauthorized assistance during high-stakes exams.
- Plagiarism Detection – Instantly identifies content similar to previous submissions, deterring plagiarism and educating students on independent thinking and originality.
Enhance Learning and Evaluation:
- *Quiz Prep and Prior Learning Recaps with Coursera Coach – Provides a personalized tutor – powered by GenAI and grounded in our expert content – that provides interactive learning assistance, lecture summaries, guided practice with spaced repetition, and tailored pre-assessment reviews.
- AI Peer Reviews – Facilitates peer feedback with AI-powered insights, evaluating text-based submissions and generating grades using assignment rubrics. In a global pilot, 97% of surveyed Coursera Plus learners preferred AI grading over peer grading, citing better feedback quality, increased rigor, and reduced wait times.
- *AI-based Viva Exam – Analyzes free-form written submissions and grading criteria to dynamically generate custom follow-up questions that test the authenticity and critical thinking behind the student’s submission. Enables educators to conduct viva-style written exams, where students ‘show their work’ and graders receive detailed analysis.
AI-based Viva Exam
Today, we also announced the launch of a new course from Vanderbilt University – Generative AI for University Leaders, aimed at better preparing academic institutions for the rapid change brought on by GenAI. The free course is taught by Professor Jules White, Senior Advisor to the Chancellor on Generative AI, and features guest experts including Andrew Ng of DeepLearning.AI, Mayank Shrivastava of SAP, and myself. The course covers everything from how GenAI works and why it matters to how university leaders can create a GenAI strategy and ensure its appropriate usage on campuses.
Together, the course and new features will help universities address the challenges posed by GenAI and uphold a culture of academic excellence. This launch builds on our recent recognition as the first online learning platform to receive ACE’s Authorized Instructional Platform designation, helping ensure student outcomes genuinely reflect their effort, mastery of course material, and skills. These are major steps towards boosting the reputation and value of online learning and industry micro-credentials, making it easier for universities and employers to recognize them for academic credit and as qualifications for employment.
To learn more about Coursera for Campus academic integrity features, visit coursera.org/campus/academic-integrity.
*These features are currently in pilot with select customers. They will become available to all campus customers after the pilot phase is complete.