Generative AI includes programs such as ChatGPT, Google Gemini, Microsoft CoPilot, Perplexity AI, and more. It is the student’s responsibility to consult their course syllabus, course template, or instructor before making use of such tools.
Misuse of AI in courses constitutes a breach of academic integrity as defined by the Student Code of Conduct. Review the Ethical Use of AI in Learning section in this guide for additional information.
Since November, 2022, when Artificial Intelligence chatbots were released for free, public use, they have garnered nearly constant attention in the news and among education institutions. At National University, students, staff, and faculty alike are still learning about these technologies and how they will impact our ways of working and learning.
It is clear that AI tools are already having a significant impact on our society and educational systems, including upon those of us at National University. Therefore, it is vital that we all approach these tools with curiosity, a critical disposition, and with an understanding of ethical responsibilities.
Generative AI tools can help you build stronger writing skills, but should never be used to do the work for you. Think of it as a learning tool to help generate ideas to help you get started. For example, you could ask the program to rewrite a phrase, sentence, or paragraph. Analyze the generated response and decide what improvements you want to incorporate into your work. You could even consider asking the program to rewrite the same content a few times for even more options. By using the tool in this way, you may learn new words to expand your vocabulary and develop new ideas for how to communicate your ideas.
Over-reliance on generative AI tools could mean that you are not developing the skills needed for academic or career success. Without proper skill development, you will not be able to produce work independently when AI tools are not available, like when giving a presentation or defending a dissertation. Using generative AI as a writing coach adds another tool to your toolbox that you can use to help you become a stronger writer.
