Teaching and Learning with Instagram and AI: A Study in Higher Education

Abstract

Ongoing technological development has created opportunities and challenges that call for critical reflection. In higher education, digital tools — particularly those based on Artificial Intelligence (AI) — may prove valuable in supporting learning and skill development, making the complex learning process more engaging, faster, and more efficient.

This article presents a case study focused on the perceptions of final-year undergraduate students in Communication Studies regarding: i) their experience in the curricular unit of Pragmatics of Communication, considering the use of digital tools such as Instagram; and ii) the use of AI in both academic and professional contexts.

An online questionnaire was made available to 52 participants. The content analysis enabled us to reflect on how AI tools can become a valuable support, a challenge, and/or an ethical threat.

The data show that students frequently use these digital tools and acknowledge their potential, but they also express ethical concerns. The results highlight the need for critical and ethical training that empowers future professionals to use AI responsibly, ensuring academic integrity, intellectual autonomy, and global citizenship. This research reinforces the urgency of preparing higher education for the conscious integration of emerging technologies.