AI Literacy in the Age of Artificial Intelligence (ChatGPT):Guide For Instructors
How can I protect my privacy when using ChatGPT?
First, don’t enter any private or confidential information into ChatGPT and similar tools. It’s possible that developers may review your entries to improve the next version of their model.
If you want to make sure your inputs aren't used to improve the model, you can turn off that feature in the settings of ChatGPT.
- Click on your name
- then Settings
- then Data controls
- and turn off the switch called “improve the model for everyone.”
Temporary chat
Another option is to use the feature called “temporary chat.” At the top of the page, click on the menu that says “ChatGPT,” and then click the option that says “temporary chat.” Then your chat won’t appear in your history and ChatGPT won’t save anything from your conversation.
You can do the same in other tools.
- In Perplexity’s settings, the switch is called “AI data retention.”
- In Google’s Gemini, click a button in the lower left called “activity.” At the top of the page that comes up, you can click the menu that says “turn off.”
- In Microsoft Copilot, if you log in with your NetID (not your personal email), you'll be in a version of Copilot that doesn't use your data for training. You can verify it when you see a shield icon in the corner near your name.
- Claude doesn’t use your inputs for training unless you opt in.
- NotebookLM: "We value your privacy and never use your personal data to train NotebookLM."
Classroom Policies and AI Detection Tools
Many educators don't support the use of AI writing detectors
These detectors result in both false negatives and false positives, which can result in tagging a student paper as written by AI when it wasn't.
In addition, if your native language isn't English, these tools will often tag your writing as written by AI. See GPT detectors are biased against non-native English writers - Weixin Liang, et al.
- GPT detectors are biased against non-native English writers - Weixin Liang, et al.
- Nobody wins in a academic integrity arms race - The Chronicle of Higher Ed
- Making ChatGPT detectors part of our education system prioritizes surveillance over trust - George Veletsianos, professor of education at Royal Roads University
- What to do if you are falsely accused of cheating with AI - Dr. Lydon Walker, YouTube
- Vanderbilt University's Guidance on AI Detection and Why We’re Disabling Turnitin’s AI Detector
- Anatomy of an AI Essay - Inside Higher Ed
Suggestion from UCATT:
While AI detection tools can be used by instructors to assist in reviewing student work, none of the current tools are fully reliable. Content that is human-written may be flagged as AI-written. This happens more often with formulaic writing like “a 500-word essay on …” and mixed human-AI writing, but also disproportionately with writing by English language learners. The evaluation of an AI detection tool is insufficient evidence to conclude that a student has violated course policies. It is necessary to have conversations with students about their research, writing, and study processes. If AI detection is used, students should be informed. See UArizona Syllabus Guide for a sample statement about AI Detection.
Instead, consider a clear classroom policy at the beginning of each term.
University of Arizona Generative AI Syllabus Guidelines, August 2023 - PDF
Contains ideas for classroom policies.
Considerations for Using AI in the Classroom - University of Wisconsin Madison
AI-Generated Text Considerations for Teaching & Learning Writing- Univ of Wisconsin Madison
University of Minnesota Syllabus Content
University of Minnesota LIbGuide ChatGPT
Classroom Policies for AI Generative Tools (collected by Lance Eaton)
A crowdsourced collection of classroom policies on use of ChatGPT and other AI tools.
Guidelines from other universities
- Princeton University
- University of Illinois
- University of Michigan
- University of Pennslyvania
- University of Wisconsin, Madison (includes classroom activities)
- Yale University
Additional Example Syllabi Statements
For instructors who wish to forbid generative AI in their classes:
“Our academic community depends on integrity, shared responsibility, and academic honesty. All work in this course must be your original work and completed in accordance with the College’s Honor Code. You may not use ChatGPT or other generative AI software at any stage or in any phase in any type of work in this course, even when properly attributed. [Insert discipline- or context-specific reasons for this, including skill building, concerns regarding equity, etc.] If you have questions about what is permissible at any point in the semester, please reach out to me.”
For instructors who are open to students using generative AI in some way:
“We may incorporate ChatGPT and other generative AI software during this course [here the specific uses could be noted depending on the course and discipline]. Students will be informed about when, where, and how such tools are permitted to be used for class work and assignments, along with specific instructions for attribution. Outside of these approved uses, ChatGPT and other generative AI software are not permitted and must be specifically approved by the instructor. [If you would like them to cite these tools: Any and all use of ChatGPT and other AI software at any stage of completing assignments for this course must be properly cited in your work using [insert style guide or approach to citation]; neglecting to do so may constitute a violation of the College’s Honor Code.] If you have questions about what is permissible at any point in the semester, please reach out to me. Please also note that this policy applies only to my class, and it is your responsibility to check with each instructor if ever you are unsure about what constitutes academic honesty in their class.”
A Few Words about Generative AI (e.g. ChatGPT)
Writing is integral to thinking. It is also hard. Natural language processing (NLP) applications like ChatGPT or Sudowrite are useful tools for helping us improve our writing and stimulate our thinking. However, they should never serve as a substitute for either. And, in this course, they cannot.
Think of the help you get from NLP apps as a much less sophisticated version of the assistance you can receive (for free!) from a Bentley Writing Center tutor. That person might legitimately ask you a question to jump-start your imagination, steer you away from the passive voice, or identify a poorly organized paragraph, but should never do the writing for you. A major difference here, of course, is that an NLP app is not a person. It’s a machine which is adept at recognizing patterns and reflecting those patterns back at us. It cannot think for itself. And it cannot think for you.
With that analogy in mind, you will need to adhere to the following guidelines in our class.
Appropriate use of AI when writing essays or discussion board entries
- You are free to use spell check, grammar check, and synonym identification tools (e.g., Grammarly, and MS Word)
- You are free to use app recommendations when it comes to rephrasing sentences or reorganizing paragraphs you have drafted yourself
- You are free to use app recommendations when it comes to tweaking outlines you have drafted yourself
Inappropriate use of AI when writing essays or discussion board entries
- You may not use entire sentences or paragraphs suggested by an app without providing quotation marks and a citation, just as you would to any other source. Citations should take this form: OpenAI, chatGPT. Response to prompt: “Explain what is meant by the term ‘Triple Bottom Line’” (February 15, 2023, https://chat.openai.com/).
- You may not have an app write a draft (either rough or final) of an assignment for you
Evidence of inappropriate AI use will be grounds for submission of an Academic Integrity report. Sanctions will range from a zero for the assignment to an F for the course.
I’m assuming we won’t have a problem in this regard but want to make sure that the expectations are clear so that we can spend the semester learning things together—and not worrying about the origins of your work.
Be aware that other classes may have different policies and that some may forbid AI use altogether.
Dongwook Yoon: CPSC 344
344 Policy on the Use of AI Content Generators for the Coursework (ver 1.1, Jan 18, 2023)
Dear CPSC 344 students,
I am writing to inform you that the use of AI-based content generation tools, or AI tools, is permitted for assignments and project work in CPSC 344. However, it is not allowed during midterm exams and the final. Additionally, students are required to disclose any use of AI tools for each assignment. Failure to follow this policy will be considered a violation of UBC’s academic policy.
I view AI tools as a powerful resource that you can learn to embrace.
The goal is to develop your resilience to automation, as these tools will become increasingly prevalent in the future. By incorporating these tools into your work process, you will be able to focus on skills that will remain relevant despite the rise of automation. Furthermore, I believe that these tools can be beneficial for ESL students and those who have been disadvantaged, allowing them to express their ideas in a more articulate and efficient manner.
We are aware that there are risks involved in allowing the use of AI tools in your assignment deliverables.
Therefore, we ask that you read this carefully and use the tools responsibly.
Firstly, it is important to note that AI tools are susceptible to errors and may incorporate discriminatory ideas in their output. As a student, it is your responsibility to ensure the quality and appropriateness of the work you submit in this course.
Secondly, please be mindful of the data you provide to these systems, as your assignments contain private information, not just your own but also that of others. For example, you should never enter the names of your study participants into ChatGPT.
Thirdly, there is a risk of inadvertently plagiarizing when using these tools. Many AI chatbots and image generators create content based on existing bodies of work without proper citation. Our plagiarism policy will apply to all assignment submissions, and “AI did it!” will not excuse any plagiarism. To prevent this, you can consider using more responsible tools that cite their data sources, such as Perplexity AI.
Lastly, be aware of the dangers of becoming overly dependent on these tools. While they can be incredibly useful, relying on them too much can diminish your own critical thinking and writing skills.
For every assignment submission, you are required to complete a form called the “AI use disclosure.”
Submitting this disclosure will help us understand and mitigate the risks associated with the use of AI tools in the course. The form will ask about your use of AI tools for the assignment and the extent to which you used them. You will be asked to submit the disclosure via Canvas.
If you do not wish to use these tools, that is a valid decision.
The use of AI tools in education can be messy and unpredictable due to the risks mentioned earlier. Some students may have moral confusion or concerns about the uncertainty associated with using AI tools in their coursework. If you do not wish to use them, that is a valid decision. This policy aims to anticipate and mitigate any potential harms associated with AI tool usage, rather than promoting their use.
We will not mark you down for the use or non-use of AI tools.
Grading will be done based on the rubric on an absolute scale, so students who do not use AI tools will not be at a disadvantage. Also, the use of AI tools will not negatively impact your grade. The instructor will be the only one with access to the submitted AI use disclosures, and TAs will handle the majority of grading.
Please note that the policy about the use of AI tools in CPSC 344 is up for change as the term progresses.
Best,
Dongwook Yoon
The instructor of CPSC 344 in 2023 Spring.
Computer Science
UBC, Vancouver