3. Developing and Communicating Policies to Support Students
Clear and transparent policies guide students toward responsible AI use and academic integrity while aligning with course expectations.
💡 Best Practices for Developing Clear AI Policies
1. Develop Clear and Specific Policies
- Define AI Use Boundaries: Specify whether AI use is prohibited, allowed with restrictions, or freely permitted in your course. For example:
"Students may use Grammarly for proofreading and grammar suggestions but should not use Grammarly's AI feature (GrammarlyGO) or other generative AI tools to create or rewrite significant portions of their text."
- Clarify Tool-Specific Usage: Provide students with a clear list of tools that are allowed or restricted. For example:
- ✅ Grammarly for grammar suggestions
- ❌ Grammarly's AI feature (GrammarlyGO) for generating text
- ❌ ChatGPT for completing assignments
- Outline Permitted AI Use by Assignment Type: For example:
- "AI tools may be used for brainstorming ideas for project ABC but are not allowed for generating written responses in individual assignments."
- Provide Guidelines for Acknowledgment: Help students understand how to acknowledge AI use in their work to maintain transparency and academic integrity. Example:
"Students must include a note in their submission explaining how AI tools were used. For instance: 'ChatGPT was used to brainstorm the structure of this essay but not for generating any written content.'"
📜 2.Explain the Rationale Behind Your AI Policy
- Connect Policy to Learning Goals: Explain how the AI policy supports learning objectives such as critical thinking, problem-solving, or ethical decision-making.
- Discuss Benefits and Trade-offs: Help students weigh the advantages (efficiency, support) and drawbacks (overreliance, ethical concerns) of using AI.
"In the field of [ ], AI is a common tool used for simulations and predictive modeling. Understanding its potential and limitations is crucial to ethical and effective practice."
"AI tools may support learning in some cases, but this course prioritizes [e.g., independent analysis, original thought]. AI use is therefore restricted to specific tasks outlined in the course policy."
🛠️ 3.Promote AI Ethics Among Students
- Educate Students: Provide an overview of AI capabilities and limitations, helping students critically evaluate the tools they use.
- Discuss Ethical Use of AI: Raise awareness about ethical considerations and help students avoid misrepresentation or plagiarism.
- Encourage Responsible AI Use: Use examples to show how AI can enhance learning:
- "Using ChatGPT to generate example problems for practice is acceptable."
- "Using AI to complete assigned problems without effort is not."
| Assignment Type | Permitted AI Use | Prohibited AI Use |
|---|---|---|
| Research Paper | Grammarly for grammar checks | GrammarlyGO, ChatGPT for content creation |
| Group Project | AI for brainstorming ideas | Using AI for drafting responses |
| Low-Stakes Quiz | None | Any AI tools for answers |
🔄 4. Be Flexible and Ready to Adapt Policies
- Update Policies as AI Evolves: Regularly revise policies to reflect advancements in AI tools and their implications.
- Seek Feedback: Collaborate with students and colleagues to ensure policies remain fair and practical. Consider asking students for feedback on the AI policy at the end of the course to help refine and improve it for future classes.
🌟 Ready to Create Your AI Policy?
Creating a clear and effective AI policy doesn’t have to be overwhelming. Use the AI Policy Builder Tool to streamline the process and tailor a policy to your course needs. You can also consult the guide for additional tips and insights.