AI is here to stay. Students are already using it both in the classroom and in their everyday lives. However, as educators, it’s important to remember that just because students are using AI, that doesn’t mean they fully understand it or its potential pitfalls. From issues like AI plagiarism to privacy risks and the spread of misinformation, students need guidance on using AI in ways that are both responsible and effective. This post outlines why having “the AI talk” with your students is crucial, along with strategies to help students approach AI in a more thoughtful and discerning way.

Why the AI Talk Matters

Many instructors say that they want their students to learn to use AI as a tool, but what does “using AI as a tool” mean within the context of your classroom? If you don’t consider your approach to discussing AI or you simply ignore the issue of AI entirely in your classes, students may misunderstand it and misuse it. This misunderstanding may undermine their learning experiences and potentially lead to violations of academic integrity. By addressing AI clearly and openly, we can encourage students to think critically about AI, apply it purposefully, and avoid common mistakes.

Two Essential Topics to Cover with Students

When discussing AI, two primary topics are essential:

1. Appropriate and Inappropriate Uses of AI
2. Acknowledgment and Citation of AI Use

Let’s break these down further to help you guide your students effectively.

1. Appropriate and Inappropriate Uses of AI

One of the most important ways to guide students in their use of AI is to be specific about what is and isn’t allowed. Many students may not fully grasp when using AI crosses the line from productive support to academic misconduct. For example:

• Allowed Uses of AI might include brainstorming topic ideas, organizing an outline based on messy notes, or giving feedback on grammar and tone. Tools like Grammarly and Microsoft Word already integrate some of these features, helping students enhance their writing without bypassing the learning process.
• Prohibited Uses of AI could include using it to draft entire sections of an essay or generating original answers for assignments.

Being clear about what is allowed and what is prohibited can help students navigate the complexities of AI’s capabilities. A syllabus, an assignment’s instructions, or a class discussion are all great places to outline your policies on AI. You might also include example prompts that align with what your AI policies. For instance, a prompt for an AI such as “Please help me brainstorm potential essay topics on anxiety disorders” shows students how to use AI as a starting point without writing the assignment for them.

Moreover, modeling this behavior yourself is a valuable teaching tool. Share examples of how you’ve used AI to organize notes or for lesson planning. This transparency demystifies AI and shows students how it can support, rather than replace creative and critical thinking.

2. Acknowledgment and Citation of AI Use

In a world where students have easy access to AI tools, academic integrity becomes even more crucial. Students need to understand how and when to acknowledge or cite their use of AI. You can tell students how you’d like them to inform you about their use of AI. Here’s a helpful breakdown:

• Acknowledgement is suitable for indirect support, such as brainstorming ideas or basic grammar checks. Students can explain why they used AI, the prompts they used, and their general interaction with the tool.
• Citation is necessary when students directly use AI-generated content, such as text or specific ideas. Many major citation styles, including APA, MLA, and Chicago, have published guidelines on citing AI.

A library survey of 40 students in November of 2023 found that about half were uncertain whether or not AI use was permitted for their coursework. Making citation and acknowledgment expectations clear helps students feel confident in their AI usage and reduces the anxiety of being wrongly accused of plagiarism by AI detection tools, such as Turnitin.

Encouraging students to reflect on their experiences with AI is also beneficial. Asking questions such as “Did the AI produce any biased or low-quality results?” or “Was AI actually useful for this assignment?” promotes critical thinking and information literacy.

Moving Forward: Tips for Instructors

In summary, here are some actionable steps to foster responsible AI use in your classroom:

1. Initiate the AI Talk: Don’t leave AI’s role in education as a vague concept. Discuss it openly with your students.
2. Model Positive Use: Demonstrate the types of tasks where AI can be beneficial and share examples where you’ve personally used AI tools.
3. Craft Clear Policies: Detail the allowed and prohibited uses of AI and specify how and when students should acknowledge or cite AI assistance.
4. Encourage Reflection: Prompt students to think critically about AI’s outcomes and their appropriateness for assignments.

By setting clear boundaries and expectations, we can empower students to leverage AI in ways that enhance their learning, uphold academic integrity, and prepare them for a world where AI will continue to play a pivotal role.

Thank you for reading, and best of luck as you navigate the evolving role of AI in education!

More Resources

• Faculty Guide to AI Tools
• Student Guide to AI Tools
• Plagiarism and academic integrity LibGuide
• A compilation of syllabus policies for AI Tools

Acknowledgments

The first draft of this blog post utilized ChatGPT to reformat the transcript of our spoken presentation into a blog format.