University video raises awareness of the right – and wrong – ways to use AI for classwork

Without question, generative artificial intelligence is changing virtually every aspect of the human experience and what it will be capable of years, or even months, from now is anyone’s guess.

What’s clear today is that generative AI, in particular the OpenAI chatbot ChatGPT, has become an unavoidable topic in education.

To help ensure that it’s used responsibly, Rowan University has created a video instructing students to know their professors’ policies on generative AI so they don’t cross the line between constructive deployment of it and cheating.

Though still in its infancy, ChatGPT is fast learning to do many things with minimal prompts, from writing code to legal briefs. Even now, the free program’s delivery options seem virtually infinite.

“I’m a writing professor by trade so the opportunities that are going to develop from it are fascinating to me,” said Dr. Jennifer Tole, associate dean in the Ric Edelman College of Communication & Creative Arts.

Tole likened the advent of ChatGPT and other AI programs to the dawn of the internet and what it’s become over the past 30 years.

“As with the internet, there have been so many benefits around how we find and communicate information, but this in turn brings so many new challenges,” she said. “And, as with the internet, we can’t stop it from developing so we need to figure out how to leverage the advantages of this tool and minimize the damage it could cause.”

The new Rowan video (below) was produced in-house by Rowan Productions and funded by the Office of the Provost. Intentionally casual, it features one student speaking to others.

“If you’re a student, you’ve probably heard about the new AI programs that you can use to get your assignments done,” the student says. “But how much help can you use before you’re cheating?”

Like most institutions, Rowan does not yet have a university-wide policy on how to use the developing technology but encourages faculty to set parameters for their classes and to be transparent with students about their expectations.

In the interim, the student featured in the video has some good advice.

“No matter what, cite your material, especially if it’s AI generated,” the student says. “Failing to cite AI tools will result in an academic integrity violation. Cheating. And the consequences for cheating are no different from cheating in any other way.”

This includes failing the assignment, failing the course, even expulsion.

“Use AI to help you, not do the work for you,” the student says. “And if you’re ever unsure about crossing the line, ask. Don’t take the risk.”

For more info, visit go.rowan.edu/academicintegrity.