Generative AI in Education

The educational technology landscape is evolving quickly. Generative AI has enabled a large number of new technological capabilities that alter student learning and educational approaches. Across NYU’s global network there are a variety of resources for NYU Abu Dhabi faculty, instructors, and students as we adapt to AI-enabled tools.

Teaching and Learning resources from NYU’s Global Network are available on the following websites:

Video: Generative AI in the Classroom

Generative artificial intelligence, which includes natural language processing systems, may have disrupted some of the traditional classroom practices but it also offers new and exciting opportunities. The prevalence of generative AI demands a rethinking of traditional assessment methods as well as a call to come up with creative ways to use it for an enhanced learning experience. Watch this video to learn more about how you can adapt your teaching style to take Generative AI into account.

ChatGPT

Openai’s ChatGPT4 (version launched March 14th, 2023) is a generative AI platform that produces text, code, and images (through Dall-e) from simple prompts. 

This new generative AI platform, and others like it are being used by students. It is a powerful new tool for generating sophisticated content. We need to respond to it in our courses, especially as the sophistication of the platform’s capabilities is constantly increasing.

Below are some suggestions of how to talk with your students about the rules and regulations of using this tool in your fall 2023 courses. You can get a free account at chat.openai.com.

How to talk with your students about the rules and regulations of using AI:

It is crucial to note that you should never enter personal student information into ChatGPT, nor your own. The platform is trained on what you enter into it and the content you enter in can be reproduced in a response to someone else’s prompt.**

We ask all faculty to include a ChatGPT statement on their syllabus and discuss this with your students. Please also ensure you have a notice on your syllabus that you reserve the right to use TurnItIn for written assignments.

To get started in reflection on how ChatGPT impacts your curriculum and pedagogy ask yourself these four questions:

  1. What are the cognitive tasks students need to perform without AI assistance? When should students rely on AI assistance from ChatGPT or similar platforms (Google’s Bard, Microsoft Bing, etc.)? 
  2. Where can an AI facilitate a better outcome? 
  3. Are there efficiencies in grading that can be gained? Are new rubrics and assignment descriptions needed? 
  4. Will you add a generative ai code of conduct to your syllabus?

Whatever strategy you choose to pursue, all strategies require explicit communications with your students about your expectations and your hopes for what they will learn from the assignments. Please include a description of your preference of when, how, and where ChatGPT can be used in your course on your syllabus and discuss it with your students.

 

What we'll be doing over the next few years will involve specific adaptations to the strengths and weaknesses of specific tools, but the underlying change in teaching and learning is moving faculty towards being more explicit about both goals and strategies to pursue those goals in their classrooms.

Clay Shirky, NYU Vice Provost for AI and Technology in Education

Optional Syllabus Language for ChatGPT Use