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Generative AI: For Study

Use of Generative AI Tools (GAITs) in assessments

Digital and AI literacies

Throughout your studies, as part of your graduate learning outcomes, you will develop digital literacy skills which are essential for professional practice, research and online engagement. So, what is digital literacy, and how is AI relevant?

Digital literacy:

Refers to the ability to access, use, understand, evaluate and create digital information and technology in a variety of contexts. It includes the skills and knowledge necessary to use digital tools effectively, navigate digital environments, and critically analyse digital content. Digital literacy encompasses not only technical skills, but also the ability to understand and use digital technology in a socially responsible and ethical manner. With the increasing importance of technology in today's world, digital literacy is essential for individuals in both personal and professional contexts.

AI literacy:

Refers to the level of understanding and familiarity an individual has with artificial intelligence (AI) and its related technologies. It encompasses knowledge about how AI works, its potential uses and limitations, and its impact on society, including ethical considerations. AI literacy is becoming increasingly important in today's world as AI and machine learning technologies are becoming more pervasive in various aspects of our lives. Having a basic level of AI literacy can help us make informed decisions about the use of AI, as well as enable us to engage in meaningful discussions about its implications for society. 

Academic Integrity

When using AI tools, ethical and responsible use principles such as transparency, academic integrity and fairness should be considered. For more information, please refer to Charles Sturt University's Statement of Principles for the use of Artificial Intelligence. Have a question about the principles? Email academicquality@csu.edu.au.

Refer to Your guide to generative AI for Charles Sturt University's policies and rules regarding use of GAITs at university.

Confirm with your Subject Coordinator what is permitted for a specific assessments prior to commencing.

 

Risks with Using Generative AI

GAITs are digital tools that use data to create content. GAITs can provide helpful answers to a wide variety of questions and are becoming prevalent in many sectors. The skills and knowledge to use GAITs ethically, legally, safely and critically may be important to your success in your future career. The landscape is complex and constantly evolving. Consider the following if using GAITs:

Academic integrity

Content generated by AI cannot be used for student assessments at Charles Sturt University, unless explicitly permitted in the subject outline. Confirm with your lecturers prior to using GAITs in your study. Failure to do so can result in an academic breach, penalised under the Student Misconduct Rule 2020.

Plagiarism

Always properly cite and attribute information generated by AI. Check with your lecturers or Academic Skills for citation formats and requirements for AI-generated content.

Inaccurate content

Use critical thinking and apply the CRAP test to carefully evaluate the relevance, credibility, and bias of any information generated by AI. Do not rely on AI-generated content as the primary source of information for academic work. Your lecturers and librarians can assist in locating appropriate sources and scholarly materials for your research.

Intellectual property

Information generated by AI may contain copyright materials, such as images and publications. Using copyright materials without the copyright owner's permission can constitute a breach. This applies to materials retrieved from, and uploaded to, AI. Indigenous knowledge practices can be undermined or supported, depending on how AI is used.

Privacy concerns

Never share sensitive, personal or identifying information when interacting with AI. Consider privacy if using GAITs to help analyse research data. GAITs are trained using massive datasets and feedback loops, so the prompts you give AI may be recycled or retrieved by others.

Using AI for research and study

If your subject coordinator allows the use of GAITs, these platforms may be able to help you find information by identifying keywords, developing search strategies, providing summaries of articles or suggesting resources. However, you will need to check resources for validity and consult primary sources such as scholarly articles, books and reputable websites which can be found using Primo Search and library databases.

You should always ensure that the tools you have chosen are approved by your subject coordinator, appropriate and align with the goals of the assessment.

Remember, using content produced by Generative AI in a written assessment can result in an academic integrity violation. If you are struggling to express yourself, or make sense of your assessment, the best approach is to seek help from your subject coordinator or Academic Skills.

Referencing

Referencing GAITs has been incorporated into the Charles Sturt's APA Referencing Summary and Academic Referencing Tool (ART). The Academic Skills team provide assistance with referencing and you can make an appointment or ask a question on their Study Success Forum.

Checking references found by AI

Information generated by AI may be unreliable or fake. See if citations are legitimate by checking:

  • If the Journal or Book title exists in Primo or TROVE
  • If the volume issue number and dates correspond
  • If the page numbers and article or chapter title correspond

If yes to all of the above, then the reference might be useful, but before you use or cite any source you should read it and evaluate the information yourself using the CRAP test.  

For more information read Matthew Hillier's article on TECHE blog; Why does ChatGPT generate fake references?.

AI Tools

Thousands of AI tools are available and more are added daily. See Futurepedia for this ever-expanding list.

Remember:

  • be discerning
  • compare results from different AI tools 
  • always reference
  • if in doubt, check with your subject coordinator!

Keen to learn more?

Online courses and modules

Recommended LinkedIn Learning courses:

Further reading

Arts Law. (2023). Artificial Intelligence (AI) and copyright.

Carroll, S. et al. (2020). The CARE principles for Indigenous Data GovernanceData Science Journal, 19(1),43. provided under a CC BY 4.0 license.

Jones, H. (2021). Intersectionality, inequity and imminence of AI: a human perspective. Forbes Magazine.

Koch, R. (2023). ChatGPT, AI, and the future of privacy. Proton Blog.

Kwashie, S. (2023). Artificial Intelligence needs legislation, standards and society-wide education. CSU News.

Mollick, E. (2023). How to Use AI to Do Stuff: An Opinionated Guide. One Useful Thing Blog.

Slater, D. (2023). Generative AI and copyright policy from the creator-user’s perspective. Tech Policy Press.

Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency. (April 2023). Artificial Intelligence: advice for students, provided under a CC BY 3.0 AU license.

Charles Sturt University acknowledges the traditional custodians of the lands on which its campuses are located, paying respect to Elders, both past and present, and extend that respect to all First Nations Peoples.Acknowledgement of Country

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