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.
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
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.
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.