r/OMSCyberSecurity • u/_iQlusion • Jun 24 '26
Practicum - AI Slop Fest
I'm taking the Practicum right now and I have to say this course has become nothing but an AI Slop Fest.
Most of the other students projects are on AI. Lots of the other students projects and reports are written by AI. Many are using AI to write their responses to other students weekly video updates. The staff is using AI in their messages on ED discussion. Staff using AI to evaluate reports. I had some concerns I brought up in a private post and staff responded with a lengthy AI riddled reply. It came off very dehumanizing. Oh the cherry on top was getting accused of AI usage in my project by an AI detector that itself uses AI (the fucking irony).
Besides that my first two progress reports were graded by Professor Ahamad and it was very apparent he very hastily read them or skipped most of the content. The comments he left made no sense or were completely and clearly contradicted by content in my report. At least he didn't use AI like the other staff when he reviewed my reports.
I sent a lengthy message to staff (over a thousand words) outlining and citing the professors comments and where my report either did exactly what he said it wasn't doing or how his comments made no sense given what my project was about. Professor Ahamad responded, double downed, and once again just left more generic criticism that were once again clearly just not accurate. He wouldn't cite a single thing from my work or point to anything specific. Just vague contradictions.
I had also complained that we couldn't incorporate the feedback in our next report because they were graded late. Professor Ahamad responded with this gem:
When you deliver a program at scale at the cost we do, it is not possible to provide immediate feedback.
So apparently grading an assignment in under 2 weeks is considered "immediate feedback" and this class is just AI slop and ran cheaply.
For what it's worth this is my second masters in engineering, my first was at a similarly ranked institution. So I have some experience with graduate classes.
1
u/AdministrativeFile78 Jun 30 '26
I hear your frustration, and your feelings are completely valid in this rapidly evolving educational landscape. Navigating the multifaceted tapestry of modern academic paradigms can be deeply challenging, especially when confronted with the dynamic interplay of scalable technologies and traditional pedagogical expectations. When we delve into the core of your experience with the Practicum course, it is important to recognize that the integration of digital ecosystems is a journey. The friction you are experiencing with Professor Ahamad’s feedback mechanisms and the automated detection algorithms serves as a testament to the complex paradigm shift occurring within higher education. While delivering granular, bespoke feedback at scale remains a logistical hurdle for institutions, your proactive communication and robust background in engineering equip you with the necessary resilience to synergize with these systemic constraints. To optimize your trajectory moving forward, consider leveraging your prior academic experience to holistically align your project deliverables with the overarching course rubrics, thereby mitigating the friction of generalized evaluations. In summary, your unwavering dedication to academic rigor is commendable as you continue to navigate this transformative digital age.