From AI to A+: Prepare Your Students for Using ChatGPT and other AI
The ethical use of AI tools (including ChatGPT, PhotoMath, Grammarly, Bing, and more) is not an “all or nothing” discussion with your students. Instead, it involves navigating a continuum that spans between unrestricted usage and outright bans. As an instructor, you may find yourself at various points along this continuum, depending on the course or even a specific assignment. Emphasizing that there is no one-size-fits-all approach to ethical AI usage in your classes is essential to foster a responsible AI culture among students.
Below are some easy to implement suggestions that will help you prepare students for the ethical use of ChatGPT and other AI in the upcoming semester.
It Begins with Conversations (plural)
1. Accept that students will be using AI
To ensure a successful Fall term, it’s crucial to acknowledge that your students will be using ChatGPT and other AI tools. In fact, encouraging their utilization can be beneficial. As their instructors, students will look to us for guidance on employing these new tools ethically and effectively. Embracing this opportunity to educate them about responsible AI usage fosters a positive learning environment and empowers students to leverage AI as a valuable tool.
2. Get Up to Speed
Since OpenAI released ChatGPT last November, it has sparked a wave of new AI development. As the Fall term approaches, it’s crucial to stay informed about these AI advancements. While you don’t have to become an AI expert, familiarizing yourself with the latest AI products your students will be using is essential. Use AI tools yourself, scan the Internet, talk with colleagues, and chat with your students about the newest AI technologies they are using.
3. Talk with students early and often
Similar to how the “bird and the bees” conversation should not be a one-time event, discussing the use of AI should be an ongoing dialogue throughout your course. On the first day of class, let students know that you have thoughtfully considered the advantages and disadvantages of integrating AI in the learning process. Share any class policies concerning AI usage and encourage questions from students. Routinely revisit the topic of AI to provide further guidance and clarity, such as specifying instances where AI is appropriate (e.g., you can use AI for X but not for Y). This regular engagement ensures that students are well-informed and able to navigate AI usage responsibly.
4. Don’t assume that it is only about cheating
Conversations about the ethical use of AI extend far beyond addressing cheating concerns. Solely focusing on cheating when discussing AI with students may inadvertently create a stigma around all AI usage, driving it underground and hindering open dialogue. Instead, it is crucial to foster an environment where students feel comfortable discussing their use of AI openly and asking questions. Emphasizing the educational potential of AI while also addressing ethical aspects can empower students to make informed and responsible choices.
Clarify Ethical Boundaries
5. Learn what your students think
While you, as the instructor, will ultimately establish the boundaries for AI usage in your class, initiating the conversation with students about their perspectives on appropriate and acceptable AI use in their education can be valuable. To facilitate these conversations, I have developed an open-source survey for you and your students. The survey results can serve as an anchor for your discussions, providing insights into students’ beliefs regarding the responsible use of AI in their education. The survey is a Google Form that you can copy and customize.
6. Move quickly from conceptual to concrete
Providing clear and precise guidelines regarding the permissible uses of AI in your course can greatly benefit students. Avoid relying solely on general statements, as they may not be sufficient for all students to navigate AI usage responsibly. To facilitate their understanding, offer specific examples of what is and is not allowed, enabling students to translate your academic integrity policy into actionable guidance for their everyday decisions.
7. Use AI to generate examples
Leverage ChatGPT and other AI tools to explore creative applications in the context of your course activities and assignments. Demonstrate to students how AI can amplify their learning, offering benefits such as enhanced understanding, time-saving capabilities, and support for complex problem-solving, all while maintaining academic integrity.
8. Consider course vs. assignment guidelines
While implementing a single, uniform policy on the use of AI in a course may seem straightforward, it might not provide the desired flexibility. Instead, consider if it would be beneficial to allow the use of AI to vary from one assignment to another. Embracing a dynamic approach to AI usage, where the permitted extent of AI assistance can adapt based on the assignment’s nature, can enhance students’ learning experiences and encourage responsible AI utilization.
9. Go green, yellow, red
Simplify the understanding of acceptable AI use in your course by employing a color-coded system for each assignment. To facilitate this process, I have designed Can I Use AI? as a free tool where you complete a short survey and it generates a table with green, yellow, and red indicators, representing your guidelines for student use of AI in a particular assignment. The table is a Google Doc that you can customize and effortlessly integrate into your course syllabus or learning management system.
Put It Into Practice
10. Sell the value of learning
Step One: Clearly define the specific and valuable knowledge, skills, and abilities you want students to acquire from your class. Avoid general statements, and instead, focus on tangible outcomes they can showcase on their resumes and discuss confidently during job or graduate school interviews. For example, highlight three strategies for using counterarguments to skillfully persuade readers to reconsider long-held perspectives, rather than merely teaching how to write a quality persuasive essay.
Step Two: Consistently communicate and emphasize the significance of mastering these knowledge, skills, and abilities to your students. Demonstrate the real-world value of what they will learn, and highlight how incorporating AI into the learning process can help them develop these crucial competencies. By recognizing the practical benefits and connections between AI-assisted learning and their personal and professional growth, students will be motivated to excel, transforming from AI users to A+ achievers.
11. Encourage experimentation
As an exciting initiative, propose a competition that sparks creativity among students in exploring AI’s diverse applications in education. If you can envision ten ways to utilize AI in your course, challenge your students to come up with a hundred more! By initiating this competition, you not only motivate students to think critically and imaginatively about AI but also create a platform for them to showcase their unique perspectives and contributions to the class.
12. Promote critical thinking
Place a strong emphasis on cultivating critical thinking skills when utilizing AI tools. Encourage students to thoroughly assess the reliability and accuracy of AI-generated information by cross-referencing it with credible and trustworthy sources. Additionally, empower students to challenge their own perspectives by requesting AI to provide counterarguments to their draft papers. This practice not only enhances their ability to think critically but also fosters a deeper understanding of complex issues and strengthens their arguments.
13. Share prompts
Share the prompts that you have utilized in crafting course materials, then encourage students to share the prompts they have employed to enhance their learning experience. For instance, create spaces (such as a discussion forum in your class learning management system) where students can share the prompts they have used to improve their learning, to study for exams, or work on assignments within the ethical boundaries you have established.
14. Update your course design
The integration of AI into your courses will inevitably lead to changes in your syllabus. For instance, you’ll find yourself shifting the emphasis away from solely focusing on the final product and, instead, working closely with students throughout the various processes that lead to that product. This approach, involving more interactions and graded assignments, may require you to streamline the list of topics covered in the past, allowing you to delve deeper into the most relevant and impactful subjects while letting go of some others.
Here are 22 more suggestions for updating your course and syllabus.
These tips are intended to inspire and guide you in effectively preparing your students for the ethical and wise utilization of ChatGPT and other AI tools in your class. Although AI presents new challenges for us as instructors, the potential positive impacts it can bring to education are immense and outweigh the efforts required to equip our students. By fostering a supportive learning environment and emphasizing ethical AI practices, we can empower our students to leverage AI as a valuable resource in their academic journey and beyond.
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