Artificial Intelligence

The Use of Generative AI Tools:  A Guide for Faculty

The use of generative AI tools in higher education is rapidly expanding and forever
changing the way we teach and conduct research.  These tools are very exciting and
transformational, while also being challenging.  It is incumbent upon instructors
to learn about these tools and how they may directly influence the teaching and learning
process in their individual courses.  While many are embracing these new tools and
incorporating them into their instruction, others are electing to limit or prohibit
their use altogether.  Therefore, individual faculty members must decide for themselves
how generative AI tools will be used in their classes and inform their students accordingly.
 Whether permitting, prohibiting, and/or limiting the use of these tools, faculty
should establish guidelines and communicate them clearly to their students.  Students
found to be utilizing generative AI tools in courses where use is expressly prohibited
will be subject to the penalties outlined in the Academic Integrity Policy.   

What is Generative AI?

Generative AI is a type of intelligence that uses machine learning algorithms and
large data sets to create new, original content.  Through the use of generative AI
tools, the user can generate text, images, audio, videos, code, and more. But, use
does not come without risks.  Potential biases and prejudices exist with AI generated
data, and large language models, like ChatGPT, are known to make up information or
hallucinate. Because information entered at prompts is stored, personal information
should never be shared.

Provided below is a very small sample of the types of generative AI tools.  The examples
are for creating awareness only.  Southeastern does not endorse or promote the use
of any of these tools.       

  • ChatGPT – Generates text and code.  The most widely used generative AI tool in higher education, this large language
    model responds in writing to prompts or questions generated by the user.  A few of
    the ways it can be used is to write stories, essays, and emails; provide answers to
    homework questions; summarize class notes and journal articles; generate movie and
    book reviews;  and generate questions for exams and tests.
  • DALL-E, Canva Magic Studio, Adobe Firefly, Midjourney – Generates images from text.  Realistic visual images are created when the user provides a description
    of the desired image.
  • Pictory, Synthesys, Synthesia, Zapier – Generates videos from text provided by the user.  While platforms differ in style and substance, these
    tools allow videos to be created from a user-generated script.
  • Audiosonic, Speechify, LOVO – Generates audio with realistic AI voices.  Text is turned into human-like voices with the use of
    these tools.

Watch these Webinars

 

The University of Louisiana System’s Bridging the Divide Summer 2023 Series featured
several sessions on Artificial Intelligence that included Southeastern’s Dr. Elizabeth
Hornsby, the ULS Content Expert for Online Teaching and Learning.  View the sessions
below to learn more.

 

Practical AI for Instructors and Students (10 to 12 minutes each):  A 5-part series
for those new to the use of generative AI (Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania;
University of Arizona Libraries licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License).

 

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