AI and Teaching - Recommended Practices

As we enter the age of widely available Artificial Intelligence the AI in "large language models" (LLMS) 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 help 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.

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.

A thoughtful way to ensure your students read your AI policy is to add it to Canvas as an Assignment using a social annotation tool such as Perusall or Hypothesis (both available at Tufts).

These tools allow you to field questions your students may have as well as generate deeper discussions about the use of AI in learning and higher education.

See: Introduction to Perusall

See: Introduction to Hypothesis

Deter AI misuse with the essay writing tool, Rumi

Rumi helps you deter students' misuse of AI by providing a layer of observation and analysis.

Rumi requires students to write their assignments in the tool and records and analyzes their writing behavior. Suspicious behavior is flagged alerting faculty to review the students' writing process.

See: Rumi - Knowledge Hub

And here are instructions for adding Rumi to a Canvas course:

See: Rumi Help Guides and Additional Features

Deter AI use with the proctoring tool, LockDown Browser

LockDown Browser can be used in a classroom setting to "lockdown" each students' laptop so that the only thing available on screen is a Canvas quiz. All other browser tabs and apps are prevented from opening.

An additional feature called Respondus Monitor can be used when exams are taken remotely. It records the students screen and webcam, and offers simple flagging of events that may need to be reviewed.

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