Academics

With the rise in popularity of Artificial Intelligence tools, NCSSM wishes to encourage the use of such tools to further our collective academic pursuits. However, AI tools are not always appropriate to use, especially during the learning process, as their use may be counterproductive to achieving the intended learning outcomes of a course or for a particular assignment.

Instructors will indicate within a course syllabus and/or on individual assessments which tasks are appropriate for completion with the assistance of an AI tool. Instructors will also provide additional clarification about any nuanced uses or restrictions of a specific tool when necessary. 

While AI tools can be used for a variety of of tasks, we broadly categorize their uses into 8 categories:

• Brainstorming

  • Brainstorming includes idea generation on content and structure of their work

• Editing

  • Editing includes receiving suggestions around spelling, grammar, and other advice on how to improve their written responses.

  • Editing includes receiving suggestions on refactoring computer code and advice on how to improve the approach and efficiency of programming-based solutions.

• Feedback

  • Feedback includes using AI tools to provide feedback, similar to having an instructor or friend read through their work

• Instruction & tutoring

  • Instruction includes asking AI tools for guided help on how to answer questions and prompts on an assignment. Students should not ask for an answer, only guided help.

• Media generation

  • Generating media includes using AI tools to create images, audio, and video

• Summarization

  • Summarization includes an AI tool providing a summary of one or several student provided documents

• Translation

  • Translation includes the use of an AI tool to translate between different languages

• Writing

  • Writing includes the use of an AI tool to generate text or code that they can either submit "as is" after reviewing for correctness, or use as a starting point for additional writing.

Instructors are encouraged to use a simple check box system on their assignments to clearly communicate which of these 8 tasks you're allowed to use AI tools on, and any necessary details students may need to avoid inadvertently using an AI tool inappropriately to complete their work. 

If you're not sure if or how a particular AI tool is allowed to be used on an assignment, students must ask their instructor for clarification!

Citing AI created works

Students take full responsibility for AI-generated materials as if they had produced them themselves. Students must ensure any ideas generated by an AI tool are correctly attributed and any facts contained in the outputs are true. All AI-generated content must be cited following the MLA guidelines, the APA guidelines, or as an instructor has requested. When possible, citations should include links to complete conversations (example).