AI in Activities and Assessments

Originally published February 2024

Incorporating Generative AI into Teaching

Thinking about ways to incorporate AI tools in your teaching or assessments? While each instructor determines the extent to which generative AI (GenAI) may be used in their classes, providing opportunities for students to engage with AI tools as part of their coursework can assist students in the learning process by fostering critical thinking, problem-solving, and analytical skills. Through active engagement with GenAI tools, students not only gain a deeper understanding of responsible and ethical AI usage but also develop an awareness of both the strengths and limitations inherent in AI technologies.

Here are four potential applications of AI tools for student activities or assessments that you may wish to consider:

1. Planning and Inspiration

Students use AI for brainstorming, listing ideas, creating outlines, and exploring diverse perspectives. Students acknowledge how AI was used and submit prep work, prompts, and drafts with the final piece.

2. Critical Evaluation or Comparative Analysis of AI-generated Content

Instructors provide students with AI-generated content related to a course topic, and students critically evaluate the outputs or compare the AI content with their own work. Students may check for accuracy, identify biases, and draw connections to course material, reinforcing subject knowledge and appreciating human insights over AI.

3. Creation of Content as a Collaborative Partner

Students collaborate with AI tools to produce summaries, create images, generate questions or drafts, refining and expanding upon AI-generated content with their own course content knowledge and creativity. Students cite which information was produced from GenAI outputs.

4. Simulation or Scenario-based Assessments

Instructors use AI tools to create realistic simulations, case studies, and scenarios challenging students to apply course concepts and theoretical knowledge, problem-solve and think critically.

These suggestions are starting points for integrating AI into classroom activities or assessments, offering flexibility for instructors to adapt according to teaching contexts and course objectives.