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Generative Artificial Intelligence in Teaching

The realm of Artificial Intelligence (AI) is undergoing rapid evolution. With the proliferation of generative AI tools impacting both our professional and personal spheres, the quest to comprehend its capabilities and constraints in the context of education promises to be an enlightening voyage.

As you embark on this journey of exploration and experimentation, whether alone, alongside colleagues, or with your students, you are bound to gain greater clarity on how to seamlessly incorporate and respond to its application in your educational endeavors.

This collection of curated resources serves as a foundational guide to help you kickstart your AI journey.

Stay tuned for updates, as we will continuously add resources to showcase and further bolster various facets of your teaching experience.

What is Generative AI?

Generative AI stands as a subset of artificial intelligence with the remarkable ability to generate fresh content, spanning text, images, audio, video, and even code, rooted in provided input data. An illustrative example is its capacity to produce lifelike depictions of animals, individuals, or landscapes from textual descriptions. Generative AI leverages machine learning techniques, notably neural networks, to absorb insights from existing data and craft novel data that exhibits comparable characteristics.

The potential applications of generative AI span various sectors and fields. It aids creative professionals, such as artists and designers, in the creation of innovative artworks, music, and products. For researchers and scientists, it serves as a tool to explore novel drugs, materials, and solutions. Additionally, developers and programmers benefit from its capacity to assist in code composition and software testing. Furthermore, marketers and advertisers can harness generative AI for crafting personalized content and campaigns.

While generative AI fuels human creativity and innovation, it also presents a set of challenges and risks, including ethical, legal, and social considerations. Notably, it can be misused to generate deceptive content, exemplified by deepfakes and fake news, which have the potential to inflict harm on individuals and society. Hence, it is imperative to employ generative AI responsibly and with a conscientious approach.

 

Generative AI basics

The video series from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania serves as an excellent introductory resource designed with professors and students in mind.

Part 1: Intro to AI Teachers and Students

Part 2: Large Language Models (LLMS)

Part 3: Prompting AI

Part 4: AI for Teachers

Part 5: AI for Students

 

Generative AI resources

AI resources

Citing AI

Before you Cite:

  • Ensure that your instructor permits the use of AI tools, including ChatGPT, for your assignment.
  • Validate the accuracy of information and sources generated by the AI tool, as these tools may inadvertently produce incorrect information and cite non-existent sources.
  • Confirm the appropriate citation style required for your program.
  • Regularly consult the citation style guide for any updates related to citing content generated by AI tools.

Following these steps will help you maintain academic integrity and ensure the reliability of your sources in your assignment.

APA Style
In accordance with APA guidelines, AI-generated or edited content is classified as “personal communication.” If you incorporate ChatGPT and other AI tools into your coursework, it is essential to provide a clear description of how you utilized AI within your work. For instance, consider outlining in your introduction the specific role of ChatGPT in generating the structure for your presentation. When citing text produced by AI, ensure that you include both in-text citations and references list entries to uphold proper attribution.

Generative AI Tools

Chatbots and Conversational AI Tools

ChatGPT is a widely renowned and frequently discussed generative AI tool. It stands as an advanced chatbot built upon a Large Language Model (LLM), capable of generating original content through its extensive training on vast repositories of existing information. ChatGPT excels in facilitating conversational interactions via text prompts, proving invaluable in aiding individuals with diverse learning and work-related endeavors. You have the option to register for a free ChatGPT account, featuring the ChatGPT 3.5 version, or access the premium ChatGPT Plus subscription, which leverages the even more advanced ChatGPT 4.0 version.

 

With Bing Chat, you can ask the AI chatbot questions and get detailed, human-like responses with footnotes that link back to the original sources. Since it’s connected to the internet, specifically Bing, it has the ability to provide you with up-to-date information, which is another capability that ChatGPT’s free version doesn’t boast.

 

 

Claude, developed by Anthropic AI, is both an AI chatbot and the name for the underlying Large Language Models (LLMs) that power it. Claude is trained to have natural, text-based conversations, and it excels in tasks like summarization, editing, Q&A, decision-making, code-writing, and more.

 

Pi AI aims to create an AI companion capable of coherently conversing on any topic, offering advice and personal assistance to its users. To achieve this, it uses the technology of large language models (LLM), trained on vast amounts of human dialogues.

 

 

Enhancing Learning Activities with ChatGPT

After experimenting with ChatGPT, consider integrating it into student interactions. This integration might involve:

  1. Questioning and Fact-Checking: Students can ask questions to ChatGPT, then critically evaluate the responses by cross-referencing with reliable sources.
  2. Brainstorming Discussion Topics: Encourage students to generate discussion or debate questions related to a subject after consulting ChatGPT for initial insights.
  3. Drafting Written Assignments: Use ChatGPT as a tool for students to outline or generate initial drafts of written assignments, followed by refinement through critical analysis and additional research.

It’s crucial to introduce ChatGPT’s use by discussing both its capabilities and limitations to foster a mindset of critical analysis regarding the generated outputs.

Incorporating ChatGPT in Assessments

When considering the role of ChatGPT in assessments, here are some suggestions:

  1. Evaluate Process and Product: Assess not only the final product but also the process. Encourage students to share and reflect on their work process by submitting artifacts or components along with the final product. Consider grading criteria that account for the development of understanding and skill, including the appropriate use and citation of ChatGPT.
  2. Utilize Class Time for Application: Implement a flipped classroom approach where students review content outside of class and apply their learning during in-class activities such as debates, discussions, and practical exercises.
  3. Allow Diverse Assignment Formats: Accept multimedia assignments, such as video projects, audio interviews, or role plays. Additionally, encourage students to submit video reflections on their learning process as part of their assignments.
  4. Relate to Personal Experiences: Encourage students to incorporate their opinions, reflections, and personal experiences as context for completing assignments. This inclusion can enhance engagement and depth in their work.
  5. Contextualize Assignments to Course Content: Encourage students to base assignments on unique course experiences or recent developments in the field. However, be mindful that responding to very current events might pose challenges for Generative AI.

By implementing these modifications and considering these aspects in assessments, educators can leverage ChatGPT effectively while promoting critical thinking, creative engagement, and deeper learning among students.

Adapted from “Strategies for Creating “Generative AI-Resistant Assessments”, University of Wisconsin – Green Bay’s Center for the Advancement of Teaching and Learning

 

AI image generators

An AI image generator based on text input is precisely what it sounds like. This AI-driven tool interprets a textual prompt, processes it, and produces an image that closely aligns with the provided description. It’s important not to conflate this with AI image-sourcing tools. Image-sourcing tools locate and retrieve existing images from various platforms, whereas an AI image generator crafts entirely original images that do not exist in reality.


DALL-E3

Night Café

Midjourney

Canva

 

AI powered extensions

AI-based extensions are browser add-ons that leverage artificial intelligence to provide users with advanced functionalities and tools directly within their web browsers. These extensions integrate AI technologies such as natural language processing and machine learning to enhance various tasks, from content creation to productivity, often automating complex processes.


AIPRM

WebChatGPT

Merlin

Monica

 

AI detectors

AI detectors (also called AI writing detectors or AI content detectors) are tools designed to detect when a text was partially or entirely generated by artificial intelligence (AI) tools such as ChatGPT. AI detectors may be used to detect when a piece of writing is likely to have been generated by AI.

Verify what content was written by a human or an AI chatbot with an AI content detector browser extension. With extensions such as Copyleaks AI Content Detector or Scribbr, you can quickly and accurately determine what was written by a human and what was created by an AI, including GPT-4 and Bard, even if the AI text was paraphrased or interspersed with human-written content. Browse with confidence and verify the authenticity of posts on social media, news articles, and even reviews on your favorite shopping sites.

 

 

Opportunities with Generative AI

Productivity and Efficiency

Generative AI tools such as ChatGPT serve as invaluable assets in expediting repetitive tasks, liberating faculty and students to concentrate their efforts on strategic and creative pursuits. By handling tasks like drafting emails and summarizing articles, these tools significantly enhance workflow efficiency.

Stimulate Thinking/Brainstorming

Generative AI stands as a catalyst for creativity, inspiring users to generate fresh ideas for their projects and papers. These tools excel not only in sparking creativity but also in crafting counter arguments and facilitating dynamic discussions, thereby enriching classroom interactions.

Support Writing and Editing

Can be harnessed to enhance writing by assisting in the articulation of ideas and concepts. These tools offer guidance on achieving clarity, coherence, and precision through valuable suggestions.

Accessibility

AI tools play a pivotal role in cultivating a more inclusive learning environment by providing guidance and support tailored to accommodate diverse learning styles. This benefits students with varying needs, including those within the neurodiverse spectrum, fostering an environment conducive to their success.

Tutoring

AI-driven chatbots, like ChatGPT, provide personalized support similar to educational tutors. These tools dynamically adjust to individual learning speeds, offering tailored explanations and guidance that cater to each student’s specific requirements.

Deeper, Richer Learning

The automation of specific assessment and learning tasks has the potential to allocate more time for learning activities centered around inquiry, critical thinking, and problem-solving endeavors.

Authentic Assessment

With the increasing prevalence of AI tools, the conventional notions of acceptable evidence of learning, such as tests and written essays, might necessitate transformation. Assignments could evolve to become more personalized, collaborative, self-reflective, and aligned with real-world scenarios.