How Can You Use GenAI Tools at TU?

How Can You Use GenAI Tools at TU?

 

Video Transcript

You should feel comfortable using GenAI tools as you learn a new real-world applicable skillset that sets you apart from the competition in the workplace.

“But I’m afraid I will get marked down for using AI.” This is not our policy.

Here is Tiffin University’s current statement on Generative AI use on campus:

We, the faculty, staff, and administration of Tiffin University, will continue to transform lives through education. Generative AI tools have fundamentally changed how we must execute our mission to educate students by linking knowledge to professional practice. We believe that AI will rapidly alter almost every aspect of work and education over the coming decades and that the most important thing we can do for students is to ensure they graduate with the ability to think critically, demonstrate creativity, and evaluate information. Tiffin University will embrace Generative AI Tools as teaching tools and resources for student learning based on the following guideposts:

1. AI can enhance the global competencies and 21st century skills of our students
2. AI can be used as a tool that hones students’ higher order thinking skills
3. AI can be a catalyst for reexamining the relevance, authenticity, and effectiveness of our assignments and assessments
4. AI can support and strengthen students’ communication in academic settings
5. Tiffin University has an obligation to prepare students for the ethical and legal use of AI in their professional, academic, and personal lives.

Tiffin University and your instructors want you to use GenAI tools as long as you use them the right way.

How can you use AI in your courses? What’s right and wrong for you as a student?

Suppose you asked ChatGPT to provide an outline for your paper or project. Then you added your own writing around the outline. That’s perfectly fine.

Should you use AI to supplement your writing? Maybe you'd like it to write a good conclusion or introduction for what you’ve already written? Maybe have it rewrite a sentence that is giving you headaches? That’s OK, too. Those are all great ideas for getting feedback to help improve your writing. Make sure that you verify everything the AI tool writes. Remember that generated text can be wrong, even though they sound very sure of themselves.

What if you just copy the instructions into ChatGPT and then paste the response into your assignment? This isn’t a good idea. We’ve just talked about the problems of relying exclusively on AI. You might have incorrect answers to the questions.

What if an activity is asking your own opinion or reflection on something? Using AI-generated text here is wrong; it’s unethical. Writing out your thoughts forces you to process what you have learned and then express them in words in an organized, cohesive manner.

Be aware, your instructors will have a good idea when you are using AI like this. It is their right to ask clarifying questions. What does this mean? If you don’t have the answer…if you can’t share what your writing was about, then this can cause an issue. If you use a tool like ChatGPT to help you write, that’s fine, but you must be able to understand the topic and articulate your ideas in your courses.

If you’re not sure when or how to use Gen AI tools, we’re here to help. Contact your instructor to share your concerns and get advice and feedback. If you are on campus, The Write Place in Franks Hall can also help you. At TU, we want to help you take control of your future.

I'll leave you with this, the famous scientist and instructor Richard Feynman once said, “The first principle is that you must not fool yourself -- and you are the easiest person to fool.” This quote suggests that it's easy to deceive oneself, so one must be vigilant and avoid self-deception. In other words, be true to yourself, and be accountable for your learning.