Pedagogy and Professional Development

Using Generative AI in an Introductory Forecasting Assignment

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Abstract

The hypothesis in both education and industry ("Agenda," 2024; ITAA, 2023; "Search results," 2024) seems to be that generative AI is now a permanent of the landscape, leading to the question: How can an assignment be designed to teach students how to best use generative AI as a tool in written work? In a midsize private university in the Northeast, the first assignment in a junior-level Forecasting class required the use of generative AI to summarize news articles and conclude how the information in the article could affect the fashion industry. Based on student feedback and instructor assessment, the assignment was successful in its dual goals of teaching students to explore how current social and cultural indicators can affect trends in the fashion industry and to recognize some of the strengths and limitations of generative AI. 

Keywords: artificial intelligence, pedagogy, undergraduate, ChatGPT

How to Cite:

Jablon-Roberts, S., (2025) “Using Generative AI in an Introductory Forecasting Assignment”, International Textile and Apparel Association Annual Conference Proceedings 81(1). doi: https://doi.org/10.31274/itaa.18475