Guidance on Generative Artificial Intelligence in Instructional Settings

CTLI is excited to help you explore how generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) can enhance your teaching. Here's how you can engage with GenAI effectively:

Overall Guidance

We collectively share the responsibility to uphold intellectual honesty and scholarly integrity. These are core principles that may be compromised by the misuse of GenAI tools, particularly when GenAI-generated content is presented as original, human-created work.  

Permitted uses in Teaching and Learning

Instructors are expected to establish a course-specific guidance that defines the appropriate and inappropriate use of GenAI tools.

• Students may only use GenAI tools to support their coursework in ways explicitly permitted by the instructor.  

Non-permissible uses

• Do not Use GenAI to deliberately fabricate, falsify, impersonate, or mislead, unless explicitly approved for instruction or research in a controlled environment.
• Do not Record or process sensitive, confidential, or regulated information with
  non-MSU GenAI tools.
• Do not Enter FERPA-protected student records, PII, PHI, financial, or HR data into unapproved tools; comply with MSU’s data policy and all regulations.
• Do not Use export-controlled data or CUI with GenAI tools unless approved for MSU’s Regulated Research Enclave (RRE).

Course Guidance Options: Ban, Restrict, Permit, Require

Ban 

The use of generative AI tools (such as ChatGPT, DALL-E, etc.) is not permitted in this class; therefore, any use of AI tools for work in this class may be considered a violation of Michigan State University’s policy on academic integrity, the Spartan Code of Honor Academic Pledge and Student Rights and Responsibilities, since the work is not your own. The use of unauthorized AI tools will result in [insert the penalty here*].

Concern: The ubiquity of generative AI tools, including their integration into Google search results and MS Office products, means that an outright generative AI ban is implausible for any activity that makes use of the Internet or MS Office Suite.

Restrict

• The use of generative AI tools (e.g. ChatGPT, Dall-e, etc.) is permitted in this course for the following activities:
  [insert permitted your course activities here*]
• The use of generative AI tools is not permitted in this course for the following activities:
  [insert not permitted your course activities here*]
• You are responsible for the information you submit based on an AI query (for instance, that it does not violate intellectual property laws, or contain misinformation or unethical content). Your use of AI tools must be properly documented and cited in order to stay within university policies on academic integrity and the Spartan Code of Honor Academic Pledge.

Permit

You are welcome to use generative AI tools (e.g. ChatGPT, Dall-e, etc.) in this class as doing so aligns with the course learning goal [insert the course learning goal use of AI aligns with here*]. You are responsible for the information you submit based on an AI query (for instance, that it does not violate intellectual property laws, or contain misinformation or unethical content). Your use of AI tools must be properly documented and cited in order to stay within university policies on academic integrity and the Spartan Code of Honor Academic Pledge.

Require

You will be expected to use generative AI tools (e.g. ChatGPT, Dall-e, etc.) in this class as doing so aligns with the course learning goal [insert the course learning goal use of AI aligns with]. Our class will make use of the [insert name of tool(s) here*] tool, and you can gain access to it by [insert instructions for accessing tool(s) here*]. You are responsible for the information you submit based on an AI query (for instance, that it does not violate intellectual property laws, or contain misinformation or unethical content). Your use of AI tools must be properly documented and cited in order to stay within university policies on academic integrity and the Spartan Code of Honor Academic Pledge.

Resources and Support

Explore these valuable resources to enhance your understanding and application of generative AI in your courses, crafted with insights from MSU policy and expert input:

• Incorporate Generative AI in Your Syllabus: Find practical examples of syllabus language to seamlessly integrate GenAI into your course structure.
• Communicate Your AI Policy: Learn strategies to effectively develop and share your course-level GenAI policy with students.
• Promote Equitable and Inclusive Use: Discover approaches to ensure fair access and use of GenAI technology for all students.
• Determine Ethical and Scholarly Use: Engage with frameworks to guide the ethical integration of GenAI in academic settings.
• Explore AI Perspectives: Understand AI as a multifaceted issue and the importance of diverse viewpoints and dialogue.
• AI Educator Professional Development Module: Enhance your skills with our self-enroll module on D2L to stay ahead in GenAI education.
• AI & Education Group: Participate in ongoing dialogs on AI in education on the “AI & Education” group on iteach.msu.edu.

Empower your students with the skills they need to succeed in a world increasingly influenced by GenAI.