Embedded Files
It's important that each instructor, in every course, discusses GenAI with their students. While the University may provide some common guidance or education to the students, the appropriate and inappropriateness of GenAI in academic work is really dependent on the learning outcomes for the course and for each assessment. Not talking about GenAI use would be like a math instructor ignoring the existence of the calculator.
Regardless, the most common request from students reported to the AI Office for GenAI misuse is "please have our instructors be more clear about if, when, how and why GenAI is allowed or not allowed for every assessment"!
So, you do need to talk with your students. And notice, we say "talk with" not "talk at" your students. You want to both gather their thoughts and ideas (listen to them) and share yours. And, we recommend doing this before finalizing your GenAI & AI Policy. After all, you never know, they might give you some ideas for the Policy that you hadn't thought of!
You can hold this conversation with your students however you'd like, but below are three suggestions for holding the GenAI & Academic Integrity conversation.
If you want to go beyond academic integrity, and you aren't banning AI, you should help students raise their AI Literacy.
Survey your students before the term begins to find out if, how, why and when they're already using these tools; what tools they are using; and, what questions/concerns do they have about GenAI use in this class.
Using the International Center for Academic Integrity's (ICAI) Fundamental Values, create with your students a shared values statement. The bonus of this method is that it doesn't just focus on GenAI, but on all of the ways in which values can be upheld. The other bonus is that it covers both the behaviors of the students and of the instructional team.
Do you always wish that students would really read your syllabus and plan ahead for their assessments throughout the term? This method for talking about GenAI with your students accomplishes that. Have the students look at each assessment to be completed in the term, and have them discuss and provide input to you on if, how, and why GenAI could be used ethically on the assessments. It gets them to think and it provides you with an insight into their thinking.
Page updated
Report abuse