As the topic of AI is becoming more popular in the education world, and with the most recent release of ChatGPT, many teachers are turning to ChatGPT to enhance learning and to reduce their own tedious tasks. Some educators are reluctant to use tools like ChatGPT with students due to fears of cheating, lack of original and critical thinking and ethical implications. It’s natural to have these concerns and to consider banning the use of AI and tools like ChatGPT. Instead of banning these tools, it is important to keep an open mind and teach students about the responsible and ethical use of AI. In this blog post, we'll explore some practical strategies that teachers can use to discuss the responsible and ethical use of AI with their students.
Best Practices Using AI
First, it's important to remember that students are digital natives and they are already using AI in various forms in their daily lives. As educators, it's our responsibility to guide them to use AI ethically, responsibly and in a way that aligns with academic integrity.
Discuss the importance of original work
- It's important for teachers to emphasize the importance of original work and to make it clear that plagiarism, including the use of AI-generated content, will not be tolerated.
Discuss the ethical implications of AI
- Another important aspect of discussing AI and academic integrity with students is to explore the ethical implications of AI. For example, teachers can talk about the potential for AI to perpetuate bias and discrimination, and the importance of considering these issues when using AI in the classroom. Tip: Use ChatGPT to share examples of how AI tools can perpetuate bias and discrimination.
Encourage critical thinking
- Encourage students to think critically about the sources of information they are using, whether it's AI-generated or not. Provide opportunities for students to critically evaluate the reliability, credibility, and potential biases of the information and how it relates to the assignment.
Provide clear guidelines (See an example of clear guidelines below)
- Provide clear guidelines for students on how to properly use AI-generated content in their work. This could include guidelines on citation, attribution, and the use of AI-generated content in specific assignments. Provide examples of what constitutes plagiarism and explain the consequences of plagiarism.
Model good practices to create a culture of integrity
- Model good practice in your own use of AI and other digital tools. This includes being transparent about your use of AI.
Conduct Practice Activities with Students such as:
- Provide real-world examples and interactive activities that help students understand the potential consequences of irresponsible use of AI. Role-playing and scenario-based discussions can be effective in getting students to think critically about the impact of their actions. Tip: Use ChatGPT to generate real-world examples and scenarios.
- Debate: Organize a class debate on the use of AI in the classroom. Divide the class into teams, with one team arguing for the use of AI and the other team arguing against it. Encourage students to consider the potential benefits and drawbacks of using AI in the classroom, as well as the implications for academic integrity.
- Writing prompt: Give students a writing prompt that asks them to use an AI-generated text as inspiration for their own writing. The prompt should require students to include a citation and explanation of how they used the AI-generated text in their writing.
Explore FAQ and Privacy Policy: With students, explore ChatGPT’s FAQs and Privacy Policy for a better understanding by all parties.
Instead of banning AI and ChatGPT, we should encourage responsible and ethical use by teaching students about academic integrity when using these tools. With proper guidance and instruction, students can learn to use AI in a way that aligns with academic integrity, while also reaping the benefits of personalized instruction, automation, and engagement.
Guidelines to Consider
Here are a few clear guidelines teachers can create for students for using AI responsibly. (Generated using ChatGPT)
- Original work: Students must understand that all work submitted must be their own original work. Using AI-generated content as their own work is considered plagiarism and will not be tolerated.
- Attribution: Students must give credit to the source of any AI-generated content used in their work. This includes providing proper citations and referencing any materials used.
- Transparency: Students should be transparent about their use of AI in their work. This includes identifying any AI-generated content used in their work and explaining how it was used.
- Avoiding bias: Students should be aware of the potential for AI to perpetuate bias and discrimination and should strive to use AI in an ethical and unbiased manner.
- Evaluating the source: Students should critically evaluate the source of any AI-generated content used in their work and assess its reliability, credibility, and potential biases.
- Respect for privacy: Students should be aware of the privacy implications of using AI and should take steps to protect personal information when using AI-powered tools.
- Responsible use: Students should use AI responsibly and in accordance with the guidelines provided by their teacher. They should not use AI for any malicious or harmful purposes.
- Compliance with laws and regulations: Students should be aware of and comply with all laws and regulations regarding the use of AI and data protection.