The Other AI: Academic Integrity
Dr. Elizabeth Burns
MLIS Program Director
What do we mean by AI?
Narrow AI:
Operate under a limited pre-defined range or set of contexts
Machine Learning:
Deals with developing algorithms that can learn from data (used in various applications, including image recognition, spam filtering)
Natural Language Processing:
This AI technology enable machines to understand and interpret human language (ie Chat bots, translation services)
Generative AI:
A type of artificial intelligence that can create new content, such as text, images, music, videos, and code, based on patterns learned from existing data.
AI in Academia: Pros and Cons
Aid in:
Good prompting may facilitate the research process
Work may superficial in content
Incorrect information, Hallucinations
Limits creativity and human emotion
Ethical Dilemmas
Environmental Concerns
If you present content generated by artificial intelligence tools as your own, unless specifically authorised as part of the assignment, and/or fail to appropriately acknowledge the use of an artificial intelligence tool, this can be treated as an academic offence.
Assignment can embed information literacy skills and include AI
Scaffold Use to Ensure Academic Integrity
Drafting Policy to align with Expectations
What types of AI are acceptable to use?
To what extent may AI be used?
How do we provide attribution for AI materials?
Permissive Policy: This course encourages students to explore the use of Generative AI (GenAI) tools such as ChatGPT for all assignments and assessments. Any such use must be appropriately acknowledged and cited. It is each student’s responsibility to assess the validity and applicability of any GenAI output that is submitted; you bear the final responsibility. Violations of this policy will be considered academic misconduct.
Hybrid Policy: Certain assignments in this course will permit or even encourage the use of Generative AI (GenAI) tools such as ChatGPT. The default is that such use is disallowed unless otherwise stated. Any such use must be appropriately acknowledged and cited. It is each student’s responsibility to assess the validity and applicability of any GenAI output that is submitted; you bear the final responsibility. Violations of this policy will be considered academic misconduct.
Restrictive Policy: We expect that all the work students submit for this course will be their own. In instances when collaborative work is assigned, we expect for the assignment to list all team members who participated. We specifically forbid the use of ChatGPT or any other Generative AI (GenAI) tools at all stages of the work process, including preliminary ones. Violations of this policy will be considered academic misconduct.
Adopting A Policy!
In this course, you may use generative AI programs (e.g. ChatGPT) to help generate ideas, brainstorm, and create outlines with explicit instructor permission and correct citation. However, you should note that the material generated by these programs may be inaccurate, incomplete, or otherwise problematic. Beware that use may also stifle your own independent thinking and creativity.
You may not submit any work generated by an AI program as your final submission. It is expected that you complete work on your own unless the instructor specifically allows AI tools for a specific assignment. If you include material generated by an AI program, it should be cited like any other reference material (with due consideration for the quality of the reference, which may be poor).
Using AI-generated content without giving proper attribution is a form of academic dishonesty and a violation of the University Honor Code. Plagiarism or other forms of cheating are an act of academic dishonesty that have serious consequences per ODU policy.