I want the students in my module to start using generative AI in class and at home, and to support this, I’ve drawn up a classroom AI policy to help guide their use of the tools. I’ve shared this draft with colleagues in the programme I teach on, the school leadership, and our AI working group, to get feedback. I’d also like to get feedback from anyone who is interested in this idea, and I’ll update this version if / when it changes.
To be clear, I don’t think that using generative AI is relevant or even appropriate for all modules or programmes; I’m not suggesting that you should use this in your classroom. However, if you are considering, or have already started, introducing generative AI into your lessons, it might be useful to prepare a policy document that will establish the context for using AI in your classroom. And to make it clear that the policy applies only to your classroom; I think we need to be up front with students that not all teachers are on the same page about this technology.
Below is the text of the draft policy I prepared, along with a shared Google Doc that you can comment on, or download and use for yourself after consulting with relevant stakeholders in your programme. This draft policy is based on Mollick, E. (2023). Why all our classes suddenly became AI classes. Harvard Business Publishing Education.
Classroom policy on the use of generative AI (Artificial Intelligence)
In MODULE CODE (MODULE NAME), I encourage you to use generative AI to support your learning. Generative AI refers to text-generating services like ChatGPT, Claude, Bard, as well some image generation tools like DALL-E and Midjourney.
Learning to use a range of AI tools is an emerging skill and it is reasonable to think that employers will expect you to know how to use them. At various points during this module, I will be including examples of how to use generative AI and LLMs (Large Language Models) ethically and responsibly, in ways that are contextually relevant to this module. I will also include examples of prompts that are specific to the topic of the week, that you can use to support your learning.
To do this, I want you to use generative AI to ask the same types of questions you would typically ask a lecturer or peer. For example, questions like:
- What do you mean by…?
- How do I connect…?
- Can you explain this…?
- What kinds of questions…?
- When do I know…?
- Can you give me feedback on…?
- When is the best time…?
- How do I start…?
- Can you give me another example…?
- Can you help me practice…?
And just like you would not ask a lecturer to draft your essay, or to give you answers, you should not do this with generative AI. The advice I usually give people is to use generative AI for ideas, not answers. If you want to check in with me first, please feel free to send me the question or instruction you’re thinking of using and ask for feedback.
While I am positive about the potential of generative AI to support learning, you must use caution and be aware of their limits. These include the following.
- If you use low-effort prompts, you will get low-quality results. Learning how to develop useful prompts takes time and effort as you experiment and trial different approaches.
- Do not trust anything it says. If it gives you a number or fact, assume it is wrong unless you either know the answer or can check with another source. You will be responsible for any errors or omissions provided by the tool. If you are asking for fact-type ‘answers’ only use generative AI for topics you understand.
- AI is a tool, but one that you need to acknowledge using. Please include a paragraph at the end of any assignment that uses AI explaining what you used the AI for and what prompts you used to get the results. Failure to do so is in violation of academic honesty policies.
- Be thoughtful about when this tool is useful. Do not use it if it is not appropriate for the case or circumstance.”
In addition to the advice in this policy, please make sure that you visit the following institutional resources on artificial intelligence in your learning.
- LIST OF INSTITUTIONAL RESOURCES ON GENERATIVE AI