This guide intends to inform faculty on the academic integrity and copyright concerns when students are using artificial intelligence (AI) tools for their assignments without their faculty's permission. It also provides suggestions for faculty to address AI in their teaching.
As AI technology is rapidly evolving and new information emerges every day, some of the information in this guide may be outdated soon. We will make every effort to update the guide as new information becomes available.
While there are a number of definitions of artificial intelligence (AI), IBM defines AI as "...a field, which combines computer science and robust datasets, to enable problem-solving. It also encompasses sub-fields of machine learning and deep learning, which are frequently mentioned in conjunction with artificial intelligence. These disciplines are comprised of AI algorithms that seek to create expert systems which make predictions or classifications based on input data" (What is artificial intelligence? IBM). One such algorithm are Large Language Models (LLM) which are "machine learning algorithms that can recognize, summarize, translate, predict, and generate human languages on the basis of very large text-based datasets" (Klasky et al, 2022).
How do LLM work? When a user enters a prompt, the LLM algorithm is making word choices based on common associations with the input. The algorithm has been trained to follow the natural language patterns and identifying common themes in the source text. The output text can be modified by the user should it not meet the desired result (Morrison, 2022).
Recently, OpenAI released its latest language model, called ChatGPT which has implications for education. Unlike its predecessor InstructGPT, ChatGPT can answer follow-up questions, admit mistakes, reject inappropriate requests and challenge inaccuracies. ChatGPT is one of a class of "generative AI" programs that can produce images, video and audio, make arguments, summarize books, tell jokes, write code, and give students feedback on their writing (Purtill, 2023). OpenAI's blog provides an explanation of how ChatGPT technology works.
Many of the educational technologies and tools will be powered by AI and will act as "a student's close companion and aide on the journey of learning and moving through college experiences" (EDUCAUSE, 2022). One issue to keep in mind is that not all AI tools are the same. "Those that complete your sentences in an email are at one end of the spectrum, and large language models, like ChatGPT, are on the other" (McMurtrie, 2023).
While many educators are not ready to fully embrace and adopt AI in their classrooms, it is helpful for them to learn more about the kinds of AI technologies available in their disciplines and consider the potential opportunities available to enhance their teaching and improve students' learning experiences and outcomes.