Birkel's AI Policy

AI Usage Instructions: High School Computer Science Lab

Welcome to the Computer Science Lab! Artificial Intelligence (AI) is a powerful and exciting tool, and we want to help you learn how to use it effectively and responsibly in your projects. Think of AI as a partner or an assistant, not a magic genie that does all the work for you. Understanding when and how to use AI is a key skill.

Your grades in this class are based on your understanding and your ability to write code and solve problems independently.

"We envision a technology-enhanced future more like an electric bike

and less like robot vacuums. On an electric bike, the human is fully

aware and fully in control, but their burden is less, and their effort

is multiplied by a complementary technological enhancement.

Robot vacuums do their job, freeing the human from involvement

or oversight."

- Office of Educational Technology - "Artificial Intelligence and the Future of Teaching and Learning" pg 53

I recently took a course that had the following AI Policy:

In this course, you are encouraged to explore and utilize AI tools, such as commercial Large Language Models, to enhance your learning, brainstorm ideas, and refine your work. However, the following guidelines must be observed to maintain academic integrity and ensure that you continue to develop your own critical thinking skills:

Supplement, Don’t Substitute: AI is intended as a supplementary resource, not a replacement for your own effort. You are expected to engage with class materials, readings, and assignments independently before consulting AI tools.

Your Original Voice: When submitting work, ensure that the final output remains authentically yours. Use AI suggestions as a starting point or inspiration, but always incorporate your own analysis, synthesis, and writing.

Responsibility for Content: You are solely responsible for the accuracy, clarity, and originality of all submitted work. AI-generated content may contain errors or biases; it is your job to verify information and maintain high academic standards.

- University of Arkansas, Little Rock - CESC 79503: Cybersecurity Practicum

When You CAN Use AI (AI as Your Partner/Assistant)

AI can be a fantastic tool to help you learn, brainstorm, and create supporting materials.

For Non-Graded Content & Project Documentation:
- Generating Images/Diagrams: Need a quick diagram of a simple circuit board for your presentation? Go for it!
- Writing Descriptive Text: If you need a paragraph to explain the purpose of your program for a project report, AI can help you draft it.
- Remember: The primary focus here is not on your writing skill, but on the project itself.
For Learning & Understanding Concepts:
- Brainstorming Ideas: Stuck on how to approach a project? Ask AI for different ideas or features you could include.
- Conceptual Explanations/Tutoring: "Remind me how to use a for loop in Python." "Explain what recursion is with a simple example." AI can help clarify concepts you're struggling with.
- Syntax Reminders: "What's the syntax for importing a library in Python?" If you forget a specific command, AI can give you a quick reminder.
- Learning New Libraries/APIs: Ask for basic examples of how to get started with a new library (e.g., "Show me a simple 'Hello World' example using the requests library in Python"). Remember to understand the code, not just copy it.
For Targeted Debugging Help:
- Understanding Error Messages: "What does this error message 'SyntaxError: invalid syntax' usually mean?" Ask AI to help you interpret error messages.
- Asking Specific Questions: If you've narrowed down a problem to a single line or function, you can ask for help understanding why it's not working (e.g., "Why is this specific line of my code causing a TypeError?").

When You CANNOT Use AI (AI as a Magic Genie - Academic Dishonesty)

THIS IS CRUCIAL. If an assignment is designed to test your coding skills, problem-solving ability, or understanding of a concept, you cannot use AI to generate the solution for you.

Generating Code for Graded Assignments:
- DO NOT ask AI to "Solve this coding problem for me" or "Write a Python program that does X" for any assignment where your coding is being evaluated. This includes labs, projects, quizzes, or any task where you are expected to write original code.
- Your submitted code must be your own work and demonstrate your understanding of the programming concepts.
Debugging by "Fix My Code":
- DO NOT submit your entire code to AI and ask it to "fix all errors" or "optimize my program" without understanding the changes. You must be actively engaged in the debugging process and understand why a fix works. Learning to debug is a critical skill!
Generating Test Cases or Solutions for Graded Problems:
- DO NOT ask AI to create test cases or complete solutions for problems that you are expected to solve independently.
Answering Coding Questions on Tests/Quizzes:
- Absolutely no use of AI during any form of assessment (quizzes, tests, exams) designed to measure your individual knowledge.
Plagiarism:
- Submitting AI-generated text or code as your own original work without proper attribution is plagiarism. While we encourage AI for non-graded content, copying and pasting without understanding or proper citation is always wrong.

Consequences of Misusing AI

Misuse of AI for graded assignments is considered academic dishonesty. Depending on the severity, this could result in:

A reduced grade or a zero on the assignment.
Referral to school administration.
Further disciplinary action as outlined in the school's academic integrity policy.

When in Doubt, ASK!

The line between acceptable and unacceptable AI use can sometimes feel blurry. If you are ever unsure whether using AI for a particular task is appropriate, please ask your instructor before proceeding. We are here to help you learn and succeed ethically.

Let's use AI smart, not just use AI!

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