AI in the Classroom
What can students do with AI?
AI Tools & Resources
Here's a list of just a few of the latest AI tools trending in higher education. This list will be updated regularly, but it is certainly not exhaustive! New AI tools are emerging every day.
Click on a button below to learn more and try out these tools.
AI tools built into platforms like Google make word choice and grammar suggestions as you type.
AI Chatbots
Chatbots like ChatGPT utilize artificial intelligence techniques to engage in conversations with users through text prompts. Chatbots can answer questions, produce pieces of writing, create HTML code, solve complex math equations, and more.
A few of the most popular chatbots:
This image was generated with Canva using the prompt "a cougar sitting in a college classroom."
Other AI Content Generators
Aside from chatbots, there are other AI tools that can generate images, presentations, artwork, and even voiceovers with a simple text prompt.
Canva (presentations)
Dall-E 2 (images)
Midjourney (images)
Murf.AI (voice generator)
WellSaid Labs (voice generator)
Sample presentation created with Canva's Magic Design feature and the prompt, "10-slide presentation on the work of Claude Monet."
How do AI tools impact our academic disciplines?
This Padlet contains some ideas from our faculty on how AI is impacting or will impact their academic disciplines. Feel free to add your ideas or comment. You can also view a full-screen version of the Padlet.
How much should we allow students to use AI?
What constitutes permissable student use of AI tools is determined by each NICC faculty member and will likely vary by course. Refer to the College’s Academic Integrity Policy to help determine if and how you'd like to allow students to use AI in your courses. You can also view sample AI syllabus language from other faculty for inspiration.
Here are just a few of the many ways students might be able to use AI as a tool in your classroom:
Use as a prewriting tool to brainstorm ideas for a research project or essay
Get AI feedback on a first draft as part of a revision process
Identify new authors/journals as part of an academic research process
Check new/existing coding for errors
Self-check important mathematical steps while solving a problem
Get help with grammar, spelling, and citation style rules before turning in an assignment
Help write a professional email to an instructor
Create a list of vocabulary terms to study
AI-Related Policies and Syllabus Language
Below you will find excerpts from relevant policies and statements that currently govern student rights and responsibilities, academic integrity and technology, and academic freedom at NICC. The language below should be used as a guide to help you determine when and how the use of artificial intelligence may be appropriate for your students, or even enhance your student's learning experience.
Membership in this academic community [NICC] places a special obligation on all members to preserve an atmosphere conducive to the freedom to teach and to learn. Freedom to teach and to learn depends on opportunities and conditions in and outside the classroom that foster respect, integrity, honor and civil conduct.
Student Code of Conduct violations include:
Academic dishonesty in any form
Violation of College Computer Systems Acceptable Use Policy
Consistent with other College policies, this policy is intended to respect the rights and obligations of academic freedom. As with all College resources, the NICC community is encouraged to make innovative and creative use of information technologies in support of education and college services. Access to information representing a multitude of views on all issues will be allowed for the interest, information and enlightenment of the NICC community.
Click to view the NICC Syllabus Statement on Academic Integrity (updated for fall 2023):
Academic integrity involves demonstrating honesty, ethics, and taking personal responsibility for one's work in an academic environment. Students are expected to ensure that their work reflects their own thoughts and efforts, and that proper acknowledgment is given to the intellectual contributions of others. Academic integrity applies to all academic activities, including, but not limited to, classwork, collaborative work, labs, clinical fieldwork, practicum, or co-op assignments.
Using ideas, words, images, or content from any medium without proper attribution and presenting them as your own violates academic integrity. Examples of these violations include, but are not limited to, plagiarism, cheating, lying, falsifying data, and aiding dishonesty. Directly copying or modifying content without acknowledging the original creator also violates academic integrity, as does the unauthorized use of digital tools, such as artificial intelligence, to generate content.
Consequences for violating academic integrity may include verbal or written warnings, grade reductions, or failing grades for assignments, projects, or tests. Faculty members have the authority to determine sanctions for academic integrity violations in their courses. Severe or repeated violations may result in suspension or expulsion from the class or the College, as determined by the College's Student Conduct Code.
Refer to the College’s Academic Integrity Policy and the Course Section Policies for more information.
How can we address unauthorized student use of AI?
This Padlet contains some ideas from our faculty on to address some common AI usage scenarios. Feel free to add your ideas or comment. You can also view a full-screen version of the Padlet.