You are reading about generative AI, considering ways to use or avoid it in your courses and even tested it out yourself. But maybe you’re wondering about the best ways to incorporate generative AI tools into your classroom. The Fox online and digital learning team have come up with some tools and tips here.
Policy prep: Create and stick to your policy on use of generative AI tools in the semester. If you permit students to use tools like ChatGPT4, Dali and others, great! We recommend you have clear guidelines on how they should use these tools. Specify how you want students to cite their prompts and the generated text. If use of AI is not permitted, provide a clear rationale why. Students need clear guidelines and understand the repercussions of not following them.
Critique the responses generated: Know that even the best bots are flawed. While generative AI is good at aggregating data, it cannot provide human insight; that critical thinking we’re trying to develop for our students. Let them know that you are looking for their perspective and critique, not AI’s. Challenge your students to use the AI tool (if permitted) and offer their own critique of what is generated. They are likely to find that the work produced using AI is citing incorrect sources or making up content all together.
Know that authentically identifying cheating with AI is problematic: While tools like Turnitin used to be our go-to for confirming authenticity of student writing. The new AI tool that Turnitin recently developed is unreliable, providing high false positive rates. Be vigilant reminding students to check their work and cite their sources (including any AI tools used) to avoid confusion and reiterate the need for academic integrity in their work. APA citation guides can be found here.
Challenge yourself: The best way to address any fears and ensure we are helping students successfully with generative AI is to test it ourselves.
Create an account and test the tools out:
- ChatGPT at https://chat.openai.com/auth/login
- Chat by CopyAI at https://www.copy.ai/platform/chat
- ChatFlash at https://neuroflash.com/chatflash/?fpr=join
- Jasper Chat at https://www.jasper.ai/chat?fpr=suresh
- DallE 2 at https://openai.com/dall-e-2
If you’re still curious and want to learn more about using AI for teaching and learning, check out these resources specifically for faculty.
- Generative AI Considerations for Faculty: This short module reviews some key resources available to faculty for how to use generative AI.
- Dien, J. (2023, July). Editorial: Generative artificial intelligence as a plagiarism problem.
- Eaton, S.E. (2023, May 6). The Use of AI-Detection Tools in the Assessment of Student Work.
- Fowler, G.A., (2023, June 2). Detecting AI may be impossible. That’s a big problem for teachers.
ChatGPT recommends help for faculty preparing for student use of AI
Fox’s ODL team asked ChatGPT: “Can you provide three statements to help higher education faculty prepare for generative AI in their courses?”
ChatGPT responded: “Absolutely, here are three statements to help higher education faculty prepare for integrating generative AI into their courses:
Understanding Generative AI Fundamentals: Faculty should invest time in familiarizing themselves with the fundamental concepts of generative AI, including neural networks, deep learning, and the basic principles behind text generation, image synthesis, and other generative tasks. This foundational knowledge will enable them to explain these concepts clearly to students and guide them effectively through the learning process.
Ethical and Social Implications: It’s essential to address the ethical and social implications of generative AI in the classroom. Faculty should engage students in discussions about biases, misinformation, privacy concerns, and potential misuse of AI-generated content. Encouraging critical thinking about the responsible development and deployment of AI technologies can empower students to become ethical AI practitioners and informed consumers.
Hands-On Project-Based Learning: Incorporating hands-on projects is crucial for students to gain practical experience with generative AI. Faculty can design assignments that require students to implement and experiment with AI models, encouraging them to work on text generation, image manipulation, or other creative tasks. This practical approach fosters a deeper understanding of how generative AI algorithms work and how to apply them effectively.”
Remember that the field of AI is rapidly evolving, so it’s valuable for faculty to stay updated with the latest advancements, critiques, and research.
A good rule of thumb to avoid student reliance on AI is to integrate real-world examples and case studies into the curriculum. These also make the learning experience more engaging and relevant.
Check in with the Fox ODL for more resources and tips on using AI in teaching.