AI and Teaching - Recommended Practices

As we enter the age of widely available Artificial Intelligence the AI in "large language models" is transforming the teaching and learning landscape.

Below are a set of recommended practices for faculty and instructors, with links to AI tools provided and supported at Tufts.

Understand the basics of how AI tools work

To better understand the strengths and limitations of AI tools like Copilot, it helps to understand the basics of the technology.

See: What is AI and how do it work?

Consider how AI might be helpful with basic aspects of course design

Educators and AI experts Eddie Watson and Jose Bowen of the American Association of Colleges and Universities offer this summary of what AI is good at:

AI is not an answer machine —

Instead, use it to:

  • Generate examples
  • Explore possibilities
  • Stimulate reflection

Tufts Center for the Enhancement of Learning and Teaching (CELT) has a great set of resources around AI and teaching

See: AI Resources for Tufts Faculty and Staff

Clarify your expectations for your students around AI

In your syllabus and lectures, spell out for your student how you expect them to use and / or avoid using AI. Let them know which tools are available to them for free through their Tufts accounts.

See: How do I post a course syllabus?

See: Which AIs can I use for teaching?

Stay mindful of privacy and FERPA issues with AI

Remember that if you use AI tools not vetted by Tufts, there's a possibility that content put into those tools by you or your students may be incorporated into future AI data sets, or may be used in other ways that compromise privacy.

See: Tufts Guidelines for Use of Generative AI Tools