View in EDS

Does Gen-AI Have a Role in Public Affairs Education? Let's Ask ChatGPT

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Title: Does Gen-AI Have a Role in Public Affairs Education? Let's Ask ChatGPT
Language: English
Authors: Daniel Baracskay (ORCID 0000-0003-2323-8380)
Source: Teaching Public Administration. 2026 44(1):15-48.
Availability: SAGE Publications. 2455 Teller Road, Thousand Oaks, CA 91320. Tel: 800-818-7243; Tel: 805-499-9774; Fax: 800-583-2665; e-mail: journals@sagepub.com; Web site: https://sagepub.com
Peer Reviewed: Y
Page Count: 34
Publication Date: 2026
Document Type: Journal Articles
Reports - Research
Education Level: Higher Education
Postsecondary Education
Descriptors: Public Affairs Education, Artificial Intelligence, Technology Uses in Education, Critical Thinking, Skill Development, Assignments, Technology Integration, Alignment (Education), Teaching Methods, Course Objectives, Higher Education
DOI: 10.1177/01447394241279361
ISSN: 0144-7394
Abstract: The academic literature has expanded significantly in recent times to consider how Gen-AI is transforming the learning process. However, there still remain gaps in the literature, first in applying selected individual Gen-AI applications to classroom learning, and second in focusing upon specific uses in public administration education. In addressing this gap, this research uses a sequence of assignment scenarios to examine how Gen-AI may be integrated into pedagogical approaches and align with course learning objectives. Using the Gen-AI application ChatGPT--which is a popular choice for students to consult for course assignments--an examination of results generated from program queries point toward both opportunities and challenges from the perspectives of teaching (instructors) and learning (students). The below discussion contributes to the literature by first developing three assignment scenarios (linked to learning objectives) to explore the utility of Gen-AI in the learning process, and second discusses various teaching and learning benefits and challenges which are premised on the need for moderation and carefully planned usage of Gen-AI technology in the classroom. This blending of pedagogical theory and practice suggests a need for instructors to teach students about the implications of technology usage and assignment originality in unison with the actual topical coverage of the content that is being presented.
Abstractor: As Provided
Entry Date: 2026
Accession Number: EJ1500862
Database: ERIC
FullText Text:
  Availability: 0
Header DbId: eric
DbLabel: ERIC
An: EJ1500862
AccessLevel: 3
PubType: Academic Journal
PubTypeId: academicJournal
PreciseRelevancyScore: 0
IllustrationInfo
Items – Name: Title
  Label: Title
  Group: Ti
  Data: Does Gen-AI Have a Role in Public Affairs Education? Let's Ask ChatGPT
– Name: Language
  Label: Language
  Group: Lang
  Data: English
– Name: Author
  Label: Authors
  Group: Au
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Daniel+Baracskay%22">Daniel Baracskay</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2323-8380">0000-0003-2323-8380</externalLink>)
– Name: TitleSource
  Label: Source
  Group: Src
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="SO" term="%22Teaching+Public+Administration%22"><i>Teaching Public Administration</i></searchLink>. 2026 44(1):15-48.
– Name: Avail
  Label: Availability
  Group: Avail
  Data: SAGE Publications. 2455 Teller Road, Thousand Oaks, CA 91320. Tel: 800-818-7243; Tel: 805-499-9774; Fax: 800-583-2665; e-mail: journals@sagepub.com; Web site: https://sagepub.com
– Name: PeerReviewed
  Label: Peer Reviewed
  Group: SrcInfo
  Data: Y
– Name: Pages
  Label: Page Count
  Group: Src
  Data: 34
– Name: DatePubCY
  Label: Publication Date
  Group: Date
  Data: 2026
– Name: TypeDocument
  Label: Document Type
  Group: TypDoc
  Data: Journal Articles<br />Reports - Research
– Name: Audience
  Label: Education Level
  Group: Audnce
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Higher+Education%22">Higher Education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Postsecondary+Education%22">Postsecondary Education</searchLink>
– Name: Subject
  Label: Descriptors
  Group: Su
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Public+Affairs+Education%22">Public Affairs Education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Artificial+Intelligence%22">Artificial Intelligence</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Technology+Uses+in+Education%22">Technology Uses in Education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Critical+Thinking%22">Critical Thinking</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Skill+Development%22">Skill Development</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Assignments%22">Assignments</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Technology+Integration%22">Technology Integration</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Alignment+%28Education%29%22">Alignment (Education)</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Teaching+Methods%22">Teaching Methods</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Course+Objectives%22">Course Objectives</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Higher+Education%22">Higher Education</searchLink>
– Name: DOI
  Label: DOI
  Group: ID
  Data: 10.1177/01447394241279361
– Name: ISSN
  Label: ISSN
  Group: ISSN
  Data: 0144-7394
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
  Group: Ab
  Data: The academic literature has expanded significantly in recent times to consider how Gen-AI is transforming the learning process. However, there still remain gaps in the literature, first in applying selected individual Gen-AI applications to classroom learning, and second in focusing upon specific uses in public administration education. In addressing this gap, this research uses a sequence of assignment scenarios to examine how Gen-AI may be integrated into pedagogical approaches and align with course learning objectives. Using the Gen-AI application ChatGPT--which is a popular choice for students to consult for course assignments--an examination of results generated from program queries point toward both opportunities and challenges from the perspectives of teaching (instructors) and learning (students). The below discussion contributes to the literature by first developing three assignment scenarios (linked to learning objectives) to explore the utility of Gen-AI in the learning process, and second discusses various teaching and learning benefits and challenges which are premised on the need for moderation and carefully planned usage of Gen-AI technology in the classroom. This blending of pedagogical theory and practice suggests a need for instructors to teach students about the implications of technology usage and assignment originality in unison with the actual topical coverage of the content that is being presented.
– Name: AbstractInfo
  Label: Abstractor
  Group: Ab
  Data: As Provided
– Name: DateEntry
  Label: Entry Date
  Group: Date
  Data: 2026
– Name: AN
  Label: Accession Number
  Group: ID
  Data: EJ1500862
PLink https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=eric&AN=EJ1500862
RecordInfo BibRecord:
  BibEntity:
    Identifiers:
      – Type: doi
        Value: 10.1177/01447394241279361
    Languages:
      – Text: English
    PhysicalDescription:
      Pagination:
        PageCount: 34
        StartPage: 15
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Public Affairs Education
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Artificial Intelligence
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Technology Uses in Education
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Critical Thinking
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Skill Development
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Assignments
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Technology Integration
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Alignment (Education)
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Teaching Methods
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Course Objectives
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Higher Education
        Type: general
    Titles:
      – TitleFull: Does Gen-AI Have a Role in Public Affairs Education? Let's Ask ChatGPT
        Type: main
  BibRelationships:
    HasContributorRelationships:
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Daniel Baracskay
    IsPartOfRelationships:
      – BibEntity:
          Dates:
            – D: 01
              M: 03
              Type: published
              Y: 2026
          Identifiers:
            – Type: issn-print
              Value: 0144-7394
          Numbering:
            – Type: volume
              Value: 44
            – Type: issue
              Value: 1
          Titles:
            – TitleFull: Teaching Public Administration
              Type: main
ResultId 1