Can I use GenAI in my class?

That depends! 

Read your course outline. It may have the answer. If you can't tell, ask your instructor. NWP does not have a unified stance on GenAI, so different instructors will have different expectations.
If you have questions, ask BEFORE you submit an assignment. 

How will they know?

1. Every person has their own voice and GenAI tools do not sound like you.
2. GenAI cannot get behind article paywalls. This means that the sources it generates may not exist, or that it attributes the wrong information to a source. For example, ChatGPT might say that "Article A claims X," but if you read Article A, it actually claims Y. This misinformation shows your instructor that you did not double check the content.
3. AI output is typically high level fluff. It might sound great at a glance, but it can sound generic and the ideas explored might just brush the surface of the topic.

Are you going to learn if you use GenAI? 

It is your RIGHT to learn. If using GenAI means you are not learning the skill (the entire reason you're in this class), then you are not using it correctly. For example, if you are in a writing course and learning how to write an essay, you will not learn those skills if you use GenAI to create an essay for you. 

So, when can I use it then? 

Ask your instructor. Be open and honest with your instructor. Use GenAI:

• As your personal Wikipedia to get a better understanding of the topic
• To spell and grammar check (if allowed in class) 
• To create an outline of content you have already put together 
• To help support your learning in an accessible way (speech to text is amazing!)

ALWAYS double check with your instructor whether you can use GenAI for assignment, learn how to use GenAI properly and create the best prompts, and double check GenAI output. 

Supplemental Resources

Evaluating AI

Developed by the University of Alberta, this webpage offers useful tips on verifying the information provided by GenAI. 

SIFT - [Evaluating] in Four Moves

Stop. Investigate. Find. Trace. This webpage arranges the process of evaluating GenAI output into a four-step process.

AI in the Workplace

Alberta ALIS has loads of information on careers, including the implications of using GenAI in the workplace. This webpage includes some of the risks of relying on GenAI in the workplace, and tips on using GenAI safely in a work context. 

Build Your GenAI Skills for the Workplace

Also from Alberta ALIS, this webpage explores how you can improve your skills to use AI effectively, especially in the workplace.

NotebookLM

NotebookLM can be a useful research aid. 

Note: BE CAUTIOUS when using this program! Never upload ANY electronic resources (eBooks, Articles, etc.) that you have obtained from the NWP library to any AI tool, as this can lead to a breach of copyright laws. 

Learn How to Create Proper Prompts

prompts.chat offers a collection of prompt ideas for various GenAI tools.

Framework for Responsible and Ethical use of AI

This PDF provides an excellent example of how to acknowledge the use of an AI tools as well as taking accountability for the content of the work. An example of an AI statement of use can be found at the end of the document.