Students draw the line on AI in creative education
Creative Media students are taking a far more nuanced approach to artificial intelligence (AI) than commonly assumed, according to CQUniversity research exploring how emerging creatives are navigating the rapidly evolving technology.
The study found students were generally comfortable using AI to troubleshoot technical problems, organise information and improve efficiency, but became significantly more cautious when AI began replacing creative thinking and decision-making.
Regina John Luan, a Lecturer in Creative Media at CQUniversity and one of the study's authors, said the findings challenged the idea that students either fully embrace or reject AI.
"Students are making much more sophisticated judgements about AI than many people assume," Ms John Luan said.
"We were most surprised by how carefully students distinguished between different forms of AI assistance. Many assessed its legitimacy according to what the technology was doing, what part of the task it was replacing, and whether the student remained responsible for the final work."
The research found students were most accepting of AI when it supported learning, such as helping them solve technical problems or organise information, while showing strong resistance to AI-generated creative ideation.
According to Ms John Luan, students were particularly concerned about protecting their creative voice and professional identity.
"Creative ideas are closely connected to identity, originality and professional ownership," she said.
"If AI generates the central concept, students may question whether the resulting work still represents their own creative ability."
The study also introduced the concept of 'conditional legitimacy', a framework describing how students evaluate whether AI use is appropriate in different contexts.
"'Conditional legitimacy' means students do not view AI use as always acceptable or always unacceptable," Ms John Luan said.
"They judge it according to the conditions of use, including the purpose, the type of task, the degree of human control, the effect on learning, transparency and possible consequences for other people."
The findings reflect broader conversations already taking place across CQUniversity's Creative Media programs.
Head of Course for Creative Media Jim Picton said a recent course review highlighted the importance of helping students understand how AI is reshaping industries and workplaces.
"A five-year course review led by former Head of College of the Arts, Associate Professor Steve Pace, with input from industry and higher education experts, identified the need to incorporate authentic AI use into our curriculum," Mr Picton said.
"Students need opportunities to understand what this means for their future."
While AI is becoming increasingly common across creative industries, Jim said maintaining human creativity and judgement remained critical.
"When AI takes the creative lead, you risk making your own contribution dispensable," he said.
"If the tool has more control over the creative outputs than you do, what are you being employed for?
"Our personal lived experiences, perspectives and storytelling instincts are powerful assets that give our work meaning and distinction. Protecting that human contribution means retaining creative control and using AI with purpose and judgement."
Mr Picton said educators had a responsibility to help students understand both the opportunities and limitations of AI.
"We want students to understand the opportunities, limitations and implications of the tools they may encounter," he said.
As AI continues to reshape workplaces, both researchers and educators agree that understanding the technology is now essential, regardless of whether graduates choose to use it in their professional practice.
"The genie is out of the bottle, and it is not going back in," Mr Picton said.
"Whether our graduates choose to use AI or not, they will work alongside, or compete with, people who do. Understanding its capabilities and limitations gives them the power to make those choices with confidence."
Beyond Acceptance and Resistance: Digital Media Students’ Judgements of Generative AI Assistance and Perceived Creative Replacement by Regina John Luan and Brendan Murphy was published in Education Sciences Volume 16, Issue 10.
Interested in studying Creative Media at CQUniversity? Learn more about the Bachelor of Creative Media and the opportunities available to future creative professionals at CQU.
