Shane Hunt, Ph.D., President and Professor of Marketing at Cameron University, brings a candid, student-centered lens to one of higher education’s most pressing realities: many learners don’t lack ability, they lack time and space to reflect. Across his teaching and leadership, Shane emphasizes that student success starts when students can clearly see the value of what they’re learning, and when course experiences connect to their lives, responsibilities, and aspirations. 

Hear Shane’s perspective on how adaptive learning and responsible AI can meet students where they are while building confidence and communication.  

Shane Hunt, Ph.D.

President and Professor of Marketing,Cameron University

Q: What, in your opinion, is the single most important factor in determining student success in your classroom?

A: "I think the single most important thing is that students see the value in what they are learning. If they do not see the value of what they are learning, they are less likely to care and far less likely to get the maximum value from the knowledge or skill you are trying to teach them. If a Professor can better connect course content to the students' lives and career aspirations, the more effective they are going to be at teaching that student."

Q: If you could guarantee every student one resource for success, what would it be?

A: "The resource I would want for them is the time for reflection. We live at a time that encourages students not to think about what they learn in classes or about themselves and how that can impact the world around them. More students work, have increased responsibilities, and waste time scrolling social media which often feels to them like pouring water into a cup with a hole at the bottom as they never get what they are seeking. I believe educational growth and critical thinking can only be achieved when we give ourselves the resource of time to reflect, improve and strategize about how we, our organizations and our world get better at addressing the challenges we face."

Q: If you could redesign the education system from scratch to maximize student success, what’s the first thing you’d change?

A: "I would put adaptive learning tools in every class so that every subject and course can be more effective at meeting every student where they are and help them to build the confidence so many are lacking academically. I would also make class sizes more manageable and/or use AI tools to allow students the opportunity to answer more questions verbally and give them more practice on expressing their ideas. The students need more practice talking professionally and sharing ideas and selling concepts no matter their profession if we want to maximize their success as employees and future leaders."

Q: Are you concerned about AI-generated content influencing study habits, AI-based cheating, or fake news from social media influencers? If you are, why? If you aren’t, why not?

A: "We need to do a much better job at getting students to think and problem-solve to determine if something is not real. I am worried about the fact that too many students will assume anything that aligns with their current opinion on a subject must be true leading them to fall for these types of fake messages. A great AI tool is to have a student enter how they think about a topic and ask AI to tell them why they should think another way. At a minimum this helps to get our students to understand the other perspectives on an issue which allows them both more thoughtfulness when they interact with people who believe differently than they do as well as the ability to strengthen their own argument over time."

Q: How do you feel the quality of the course materials and faculty support resources utilized by you have an impact on teaching and learning?

A: "They have a massive impact on teaching and learning. Most professors would tell you they teach to the middle of their class, but the range of student success and aptitude is the widest that I have seen in the twenty years I have been doing this. Professors need quality course materials that challenge their best students and provide support and guidance for their students who struggle the most. Outstanding course materials are critical in getting the best possible learning outcome for each student (which might not always be an A or a B) which then maximizes their individual investment in the course and helps more stakeholders see a more broadly positive impact from higher education."