Generative AI: A Student's Guide

By now you have heard from your instructors and read your course syllabuses that include policy statements about the use of large language model (LLM) generative AI. Please make sure that you read and understand your instructors' generative AI policies and your courses' learning objectives to understand your learning role in your courses.

Course generative AI policies tend to fall under the following 5 categories:

1. Complete boycott: Students are not to use an LLM generative AI to complete or contribute to any course work, directly or indirectly. Any use of LLM generative AI might be considered a violation of academic integrity.
2. Limited use - neutral: Students may have some freedom to use LLM generative AI tools peripherally, as idea generators or tutors, for example, but all other work must be their own. Any use of LLM generative AI likely needs to be cited, and may also require inclusion of chat transcripts.
3. Limited use - encouraged. Students are encouraged to use LLM generative AI tools in specific instances, such as creating outlines for papers or presentations. Any use of LLM generative AI likely needs to be cited, and may also require inclusion of chat transcripts.
4. Full use - specific assignments. Students are encouraged or even required to use LLM generative AI to produce material for specific assignments. This will likely include the need to cite the LLM generative AI that is used, and may also require inclusion of chat transcripts.
5. Full use - general. Students are encouraged or even required to use LLM generative AI in any capacity in the course. Depending on the nature of the course and specific assignments citation may be required, as well as inclusion of chat transcripts.

Note that education generally is still in a reactive-to-active phase on the timeline of this disruptive technology. You will see many changes as instructors also move and grow into this technology as a teaching and learning tool. You are encouraged to be transparent with your use of LLM generative AI tools, and to engage your instructors in discussions about the use of generative AI in the classroom.