AI and Critical Thinking: a Resource for Faculty

Students will use AI more and more frequently.

• Addressing concerns around intellectual property, AI misinformation/disinformation, and academic integrity is key
• Over-reliance does not benefit the student or prepare them for the "real world"
• AI is a tool. As any other new tool, service, or software, it can be something that the student becomes too dependent on.
• Understanding the use and potential of AI is important, as students will be expected by many employers to use it appropriately and ethically as a resource and a tool

AI tools are becoming harder and harder to detect.
Plagiarism detectors are not 100% accurate; what to do?

Be open to the potential good and bad of AI. Discuss concerns you have, and that your students have. Teach ethical use of AI.

1. Emphasize course AI policies the first class meeting and in the first course module, and/or in the course announcements
2. Be clear on expectations
3. Create learning opportunities and discussions about AI and Academic Integrity
4. When appropriate, encourage students to evaluate the use of AI as part of an assignment
5. Discuss AI generated misinformation, disinformation, and the erosion of trust in web-based resources

Students may choose to use or over-use AI.

Strategies to help guide the conversation if you suspect a student is using or over-using AI.

• Schedule a Zoom or in-person session to discuss the assignment and your concerns
• Ask the student to clarify their thinking concerning specific parts of the assignment, and their understanding of using AI in the course
• Frame the discussion in a positive light as a learning opportunity
  • Provide evidence to the student as needed and if appropriate
  • Understand that students are novice writers
  • Students may also be struggling with specific course expectations or their own lack of knowledge
    • They may turn to AI for support, guidance, tutoring 
    • They may become over-reliant on AI
• Discuss with the student the University/Course AI policy, and the Honor Code
• If appropriate, direct the student to contact the library for assistance in locating (quality and/or peer reviewed) resources 
• If appropriate, provide the student with an opportunity to resubmit
• If appropriate, refer to Academic Standards Committee