Considerations for AI use in this and other classes
Every class has a syllabus that tells you about the plan for learning and the professor’s expectations. In most courses,professors will also include rules for using AI. Read thesyllabus carefully and if AI isn’t mentioned, ask the professorabout it right away.
Expect that AI policies will vary between professors, coursesand even by projects and class assignments. Some facultymembers will encourage or even require you to use AI,while others will prohibit it. Those decisions are based onthe learning goals for the course. Keep track of the policies foreach course and assignment so you don’t get confused.
Originality: Ensure all work submitted is your own, representing your unique voice and ideas. When permitted,you can use AI tools for help but not to do the work for you,unless your professor says it’s okay to use AI in a specific way.
How I would use AI for this workshop: Brainstorming & organizing ideas
My example of exploring pay gaps among men and women in non-profit orgs was my own inspiration, but I asked AI
- to give me ideas about how to organize it as a research topic
- to narrow the scope of my topic
- to give me keywords and synonyms that I could use when searching for sources.
I would not ask AI to:
- Provide information sources. Sometimes it will just make up sources that do not exist.
- Draft my research essay. If you do this, you lose control of whether or not the essay actually makes sense.
Some ways you can use AI
Writing assistance
Use AI at discrete parts of your writing process. For example, to brainstorm or generate ideas, help you think about organization, adjust your writing style to suit your audience and purpose, and to check sentence clarity, grammar and citations. Always remain the primary author of your work.
Creative assistance
AI tools can spark your imagination in production of art, graphic design, music, performing arts and other creative expressions. Be sure to credit creators of the original works.
Study assistance
Use AI tools as a tutor portner; ask it to create study notes, challenge you with quizzes and test your understanding. Make sure you critically evaluate the accuracy of these materials as you study.
Research and information gathering
Ask AI to explain complex concepts in language you can understand. Always critically evaluate AI's responses to ensure the information is credible and relevant. Read original sources to verify facts and gain your own deeper understanding.
Data analysis and visualization
Use AI to interpret and summarize data or to create graphical representations of data such as charts and graphs. Again, always verify the work and make sure you are able to explain and justify what AI produces for you.
Credit: Some content has been adapted under a Creative Commons license from the AI-U/v1.0: A Student Guide to Navigating College in the Artificial Intelligence Era, AAC&U.