Artificial intelligence is rapidly changing how students learn about research, writing, and learning. AI tools can assist with generating new ideas, organizing ideas, and generating (or revising) your writing. However, responsible use of AI tools in academic work will define if and how you will be using it ethically. Responsible use means you need to know how and when to use AI, and also why, in order to improve your learning without crossing ethical lines.
If you are thinking about how to responsibly use AI as you pursue your academic journey along with your educational goals, then you can use this guide to think through AI in a thoughtful and transparent way.
1. Be Familiar with Your School’s AI Policy
Before using an AI tool be sure to check with your school or university regarding policy on that use. This is important because some teachers may allow their students to use AI during the writing process for brainstorming and editing, whereas others may have prohibited its use altogether in the assigned projects.Following your school or university policies will help reduce the possibility of unintentional plagiarism or academic dishonesty!
2. Use AI as a Resource not as a Substitute
AI can be a great resource for creating ideas, summarizing articles, or improving grammar but AI should definitely not be something you rely on instead of your own thinking or writing. When you are learning, you should use technologies (like AI and other artificial intelligence) as tools to help you learn, just as you would use a calculator or a spell checker, rather than to help you complete your assignments. You will get a better understanding and develop skills!
3. Be Transparent and Give Credit
If you are employing AI to support your research, writing or brainstorming, acknowledge it. First, identify the AI tool you used and explain how you used it as part of your assignment or bibliography. Many educators and journals are requiring students to indicate the use of AI, so similar to indicating a book or website source, just be honest, and you will build trust, maintain academic integrity, and preserve the purpose of academic work.
4. Double-Check AI Output for Accuracy
AI has the potential to give outdated, incorrect, or biased information at times. The next important thing to pay attention to is always fact-check the information AI generates. At the bare minimum, cross-reference that information against trusted sources, such as textbooks, peer-reviewed academic journals, official websites. Always independently check outputs against trusted academic sources (ex. peer-reviewed journals, government publications, and trusted authoritative textbooks). When possible (which is always, in your case), triangulate with multiple trusted sources to check for accuracy and bias.
5. Protect Your Privacy
Exercise caution when using any AI tool that stores its data or uses it for further training to allow subsequent AI users to access it. Think carefully about the data being shared, provided, or uploaded to any AI tool. When you use tools that might use or store your data, do not upload the complete material for an assignment, personal information, or confidential research or material in general. When using a tool, be sure to read its privacy policy and your school technology policy if you are unsure.
6. Use AI for Brainstorming and Outlining
AI can assist you in generating ideas and organizing your thoughts faster. For instance, if you’re unsure where to begin and are developing a research topic, AI can identify potential topics, relevant themes, important questions, and even potential thesis statements based on your area of study. Likewise, if you're writing an essay or paper and are looking to structure it properly, AI can generate an outline for you, proposing the logical sections to include in it, as well as important supporting points, contrary positions to consider and address, and other relevant aspects based on the search process. This use of AI will save you time and provide a good place to start your in-depth exploration or research and critical thinking process.
7. Don’t Use AI for Final Drafts or Exams
Utilizing AI to complete essays, exam responses, and personal reflections is a clear violation of academic integrity. These tasks are meant to provide instructors with an opportunity to assess your knowledge, analysis, and original thinking, not an AI's ability to generate human-like text. Keep in mind: AI should assist your work, not do it for you. Use AI as an ethical tool for help and assistance, but ensure that your submissions reflect your own work, voice and critical thinking. Universities and colleges are increasingly using AI-detection software and submitting AI-generated work for assignments could have dire academic consequences. Always be honest, do your work, and utilize AI in a way that supports your academic growth rather than taking it over.
8. Cite AI Tools Properly
In the event that your instructor approves the use of AI in your assignments, it is essential to cite the information appropriately in order to promote transparency and avoid accusations of plagiarism. All major citation formats, such as APA, MLA, and Chicago, now offer guidance on citing AI content, and use similar conventions depending on the format, which will typically require you to provide what tool you used (ex. ChatGPT), the version of it (ex. GPT-4), the date of access, and a description of what you did with the output. Some formats will also require you state the prompts you used or label the AI-generated parts. Since the citation standards for AI content are still being developed, always confirm with the newest style guide and/or your instructor for guidance on proper formatting. Using AI in your assignment without proper attribution to the AI could be described as academic misconduct, and if unsure of what to do, always ask for clarification so you can be certain your assignment complies with ethical and institutional standards.
9. Think Critically About Bias and Limitations
AI tools reflect the biases present in their training data, which can skew perspectives on sensitive topics. Since AI lacks true understanding, it may present outdated or one-sided information as fact. Always cross-check AI outputs with credible sources, especially for controversial subjects. Look for missing viewpoints and question underlying assumptions. Remember, AI can't evaluate information like humans can - your critical thinking remains essential to ensure balanced, ethical research. Responsible use means recognizing both AI's capabilities and its limitations.
10. Ask for Guidance When Unsure
When in doubt about using AI for assignments, always consult your instructor or academic advisor first. They can clarify what constitutes acceptable use for specific projects and help you navigate ethical boundaries. Every course may have different policies - some instructors might permit AI for brainstorming but ban it for writing, while others may allow limited use with proper citation. Your educators can also suggest discipline-specific considerations you might not anticipate, like how AI use differs between STEM and humanities work. Seeking guidance demonstrates your commitment to academic honesty and ensures you're enhancing rather than compromising your learning. Remember, it's always better to ask beforehand than explain questionable choices after submitting work.
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