On October 18, 2025, UAC psychology students Eden Kim, Haeun Song, and Jiyoon Shin presented their research at the 2025 KOTESOL International Conference, held at SUNY Korea on the Incheon Global Campus.

Their presentation, “When AI supports and when it undermines: Critical thinking, agency, and voice in educational contexts,” explored the dual role of generative AI in education—highlighting how it can both enhance and challenge students’ critical thinking and authentic voice.

Grounded in extensive literature review, the students emphasized the importance of using AI responsibly to support student agency, creativity, and independent thinking. They shared that engaging with current teachers and professors at the conference encouraged them to reflect on how AI can empower student learning rather than replace it.

Professor Carina Pals, who supervised the project, noted that the conference offered an ideal opportunity for the students to experience presenting in an academic setting. Originally accepted as a short talk, their proposal was later upgraded to a 25-minute research presentation, which they delivered with confidence and clarity.

The experience strengthened the students’ motivation to continue exploring the role of AI in education and to contribute to ongoing conversations around technology, agency, and learning in future semesters.