Teaching with AI
ASSESSMENT STRATEGIES
The following assessment strategies focus on incorporating generative AI into the learning experience. The goal with each of these strategies is to find ways to leverage the benefits of generative AI while doing so in a responsible and ethical manner. Each strategy presents the overall concept, the steps to facilitate the assessment, an example of a prompt that could be used with a generative AI model, and some rationale of the benefits the strategy brings to the learning experience.
This assessment incrementally introduces generative AI through a series of scaffolded activities grounded in course concepts. Students interact with AI while analyzing its capabilities, limitations, and creative uses, before collaboratively producing an ethical usage guide. This builds situated AI literacy while fostering critical thinking.
This assessment strategy integrates a virtual AI teammate into the think-pair-share process. First, students think individually about a prompt. Next, they pair up to discuss their thoughts while also consulting an AI for fresh perspectives. Finally, pairs share their ideas with the class, emphasizing the rationales behind their choices.
The instructor provides an AI counterpart with a discussion prompt. The AI provides relevant ideas that students then rank. Students then meet in groups to analyze the responses and suggest improvements. The class then collaboratively crafts a follow-up prompt seeking to build on the AI's initial perspective, triggering an iterative process.
Students have an AI argue both sides of a controversial issue impartially. Learners review the generated transcript, analyzing which ideas seem compelling. They summarize their overall stance after weighing both perspectives. Articulating their analysis builds communication skills and familiarizes them with core arguments on complex topics.
In this strategy, an AI assistant generates two outlines on a student's chosen topic. The student then annotates the outlines, indicating which ideas they favor and why. Students then share their findings in class. Annotating the AI's work promotes critical analysis skills and accountability for choices that are shared with peers.
This assessment strategy engages students in teaching a concept they've recently learned to an AI programmed to act as a novice undergraduate student. Through this exercise, students enhance their understanding and communication skills, while the AI's critiques help them refine their ability to convey complex ideas clearly and effectively.
Students engage with an AI to brainstorm creative solutions to complex, real-world problems. They then analyze the quality and practicality of the solutions in an effort to present the most persuasive solution amongst their peers. The strategy fosters creative thinking, critical evaluation, and persuasive communication skills while fostering AI literacy.
COURSE POLICIES
The integration of artificial intelligence into higher education raises important ethical questions about its responsible use in the learning process. Example policies presented here take different approaches, from prohibiting to permitting to actively encouraging AI use in coursework. The intent is not to endorse any single policy, but rather to provide faculty well-reasoned samples to adapt to their specific contexts. As this technology grows increasingly ubiquitous, establishing ethical AI literacy emerges as an important responsibility for institutions and educators. These example policies are a starting point for an essential conversation about guiding the next generation of AI users.
Course Policy 1: A Balanced Approach
In this course, students are encouraged to use generative AI tools such as ChatGPT with intention and care, while upholding principles of academic integrity. AI can be a powerful resource for generating ideas, improving writing style, and enhancing creativity. However, work produced solely by AI should never be submitted for course credit.
If you choose to utilize AI tools in your academic process, you must:
Clearly indicate which parts of your work involved the use of AI tools, including the specific tools used (e.g. ChatGPT). This allows us to have an open discussion about AI's role.
Provide the prompts submitted to the AI, either in an appendix or footnote. This level of transparency allows me to better evaluate your contribution versus the AI output.
Ensure AI use aligns with assignment goals focused on developing your skills and knowledge. The course is designed to foster your growth, so AI should play an assistive, not replacement, role.
Rigorously fact-check any information provided by AI and cite appropriately. AI often generates false or biased information. You are responsible for the accuracy of all content submitted.
As new technologies like AI continue evolving, so too will this policy through an open dialogue between students and faculty. We navigate these tools together through care, ethics, and mutual understanding. Please reach out with any questions or concerns around the use of AI in our shared learning process.
Course Policy 2: An Enthusiastic Approach
This course embraces the tremendous potential of new generative AI technologies like ChatGPT to augment and enhance student learning. These tools offer exciting new possibilities for gathering ideas, improving your writing, and stimulating creativity.
I encourage you to actively utilize ChatGPT and other AI tools to enrich your learning experience in this course. At the same time, it is vital we do so in a thoughtful manner that upholds academic integrity. Please follow these guidelines when incorporating AI into your work:
Use AI as a generative tool to expand your thinking and understanding. Let it inspire new ideas and make connections you may not have made on your own. But do not rely on it solely to complete or write assignments for you.
Edit, adapt and build upon any text or ideas produced by AI before submitting work. Transparently explain in an appendix how/where you incorporated AI as part of your process.
Carefully verify any information presented by AI for accuracy, and cite appropriately using APA guidelines. You are responsible for any errors or misinformation.
Approach AI thoughtfully by considering biases it may reflect and thoughtfully guiding it to produce useful, high-quality output. Use your human judgment.
Reach out any time with questions about responsibly utilizing these tools to aid your learning in this course. I am excited to explore AI's potential together!
With sound judgement and ethics, AI can significantly enhance learning and creativity. I encourage you to tap into its possibilities as we traverse this emerging terrain together. Let's have an amazing semester discovering innovative ways to responsibly integrate AI into our educational journey!
Course Policy 3: A Restrictive Approach
The use of generative AI tools such as ChatGPT is prohibited for course assignments unless explicitly instructed by faculty. Students should complete work independently without the use of AI to generate content on their behalf.
The intent of this policy is to uphold principles of academic integrity and ensure students develop core skills this course aims to build, which include critical thinking, writing, research and analysis. While AI tools have potential to assist learning, utilizing them to generate complete or significant portions of work does not allow for an authentic assessment of student abilities.
I realize that AI tools take many forms and can be used in many ways. Please reach out to the instructor if you have any questions regarding what does or does not constitute acceptable use of AI or other technologies for coursework. There may be certain circumstances in which AI tools can play a constructive role, so starting a conversation is encouraged to explore those possibilities together. This policy may evolve over time as AI technology continues advancing.