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Office of IDEAS

Generative AI for Teaching and Learning

What is Generative AI?

Generative AI refers to artificial intelligence systems that have the ability to generate content, such as text, images, or even videos, that is often indistinguishable from content created by humans. These systems are trained on large datasets of human-generated content and use various algorithms, such as neural networks, to produce new content based on patterns and information they have learned from the training data.

While generative AI offers several benefits for higher education, it's essential to consider ethical and privacy implications, including issues related to data security, bias in AI-generated content, and the need for human oversight to ensure the quality of educational materials. Institutions and educators should carefully implement and monitor the use of generative AI to maximize its positive impact on teaching and learning. (OpenAI, 2023)

Learning with AI: A Guide for Students

The Office of IDEAS has developed a course to guide students in exploring the possibilities with generative AI and examining the ethical dimensions of responsible AI use. Faculty can assign the course for students in their classes if they wish. Students can self-enroll in the Canvas course and will receive a digital badge upon completion of the course. Faculty can also self-enroll into the course to preview the content.
Course Self-Enrollment

Generative AI can be adopted in a teaching and learning context in a variety of ways. Below are some resources to learn more about opportunities to integrate AI tools in your class.

The rise of AI usage has created new avenues for academic dishonesty and cheating. A key aspect of ethical AI use is to ensure fair evaluation and uphold the principles of honesty in education. A primary challenge in this work is that tools to consistently, reliably detect text generated, wholly or in part, by generative AI tools are not available. While some tools can be used to check the likelihood of AI usage in writing, they can never be 100% reliable and can have difficulty identifying AI-generated text that has passed through a 'text spinner'. Fresno State is piloting Turnitin AI Writing Detection during the fall semester to gain instructor input and feedback on this tool. 

Learn more about the Turnitin AI Writing Detection Pilot

Another challenege for students is that different faculty members may have varying standards or expectations around AI usage and it is recommended that you be clear to students regarding the boundaries for your class and to emphasize that the universisty Honor Code applies to AI even if AI is not explicitly referenced.

Review Fresno State Student AI Terms and Conditions

Additionally, there can be concerns around privacy and intellectual property rights when uploading student work into detection tools without consent.

Faculty can use generative AI for a variety of tasks from administrative to instructional. Below are examples of tasks that can be done more efficiently with the assistance of a variety of AI tools:

  • Creating assessment rubrics
  • Generating quiz questions and discussion prompts
  • Generating case study ideas
  • Identifying research/reference sources
  • Developing in-class activities
  • Generating images to enhance Canvas pages & Powerpoint slides

Resources

AI can be used by students for just-in-time assistance as well as for providing strategies and tools to maximize time efficiency as student balance competing demands on their time. Some tasks that AI can assist students with include:

  • Personalized tutoring
  • Writing feedback
  • Self-quizzing
  • Brainstorming
  • Executive functioning

Resources: