Tech Explained: Here’s a simplified explanation of the latest technology update around Tech Explained: New AI technology coming to ECC to meet federal deadline in Simple Termsand what it means for users..
El Camino College will soon allow AI to be used to make course materials more accessible for disabled students to meet federal standards that will go into effect on Friday, April 24.
This comes following a Technology Committee meeting on Tuesday, March 17, that defined working groups to implement a district-wide administrative policy for artificial intelligence.
The centerpiece of this rollout is the early adoption of Nectir AI, an accessible platform that will provide specialized accommodations for students with disabilities.
Nectir AI allows instructors to build custom AI assistants that are trained specifically on their course syllabi and materials, providing students with a customized tutor that understands the specific requirements of their class.
To regulate these new technologies, the college has been implementing Administrative Procedure 3775.
This procedure coordinates the transition of AI into operational use across the district and regulate AI-related functions regardless of the user’s location or the devices being utilized.
As stated within the Education Uses section of AP3775, faculty may require evidence or citation of how generative AI was used in any coursework regardless of whether such use was in relation to an accommodation.
While the college provides the framework, the specific rules for AI usage varies from department to department
In STEM courses, early AI models, such as Otter, often struggle to produce complex equations and mathematical concepts in transcriptions. Newer tools such as Nectir AI are expected to bridge this gap, but their use will be strictly defined by department heads.
Many humanities courses currently exclude the use of AI to protect academic integrity, while the arts department is generally more accepting of generative AI on a course-by-course basis.
Ultimately, the consequences for students misusing AI will be left to faculty discretion.
Distance Education Faculty Coordinator Moses Wolfenstein said that most of the time, communication about how AI is used between students and faculty is settled by talking it out.
To support the transition to AI fluency, extensive training will be provided to faculty.
Several dedicated courses are currently in development to ensure that students can navigate AI tools ethically and effectively.
Alexa Findlay, a tutor at the the Reading and Writing Studio, is already seeing the practical benefits of AI use with how the technology helps students with visual impairments.
She said that for a a student who is blind, AI can tell her if her shoes are matching when she takes a picture, helps her navigate the Internet by describing the cursor placement and read text to her out loud.
While some students benefit from these advanced applications, others use standard tools for external tasks.
”I mainly use AI for work; hardly ever for coursework,” said Miguel Casillas, 45, an undeclared major. “When I do use AI, it’s the free version or whatever is available.”