In Talking To Students About Artificial Intelligence
When I am modeling the use of AI tools in front of the class:
“Hmmm. Here’s what I like about what is happening right now, and here is what I don’t like: . . . Let me try this next . . .”
“I want to make sure that when I am using AI at this stage in my process that I do not let it . . . “
“I don’t want to stop too soon, so I’m going to keep this dialogue going with another prompt or two to see whether the AI can help me get any closer to what I am trying to do.”
When I am inviting students to use an AI tool as part of a larger writing process:
“Is this the right time to invite an AI tool into your writing process? Why or why not?”
“Before you start using this tool, ask yourself: What do I hope to get from it? What do I want to avoid?”
“We have to be thoughtful about whether our use of AI is helping us to think or replacing our thinking with inferior, boring imitations of thought. So how will you approach this in a way that helps your thinking without taking away opportunity to think?”
“How can you use your own words and thinking expand on an idea that AI surfaced? Now that you have seen the output from AI, what other ideas can you add that the AI tool did not raise?”
“What have we learned about how to credit an AI tool? How and when will you apply that in your work on this project?”
“Is there some diction in this AI-generated text that you think makes it sound particularly professional or authoritative on this topic? Why do these words and phrases have this effect? Can you find a home for some of them in your own writing to elevate your style without losing your voice?”
When I suspect a student has misused AI in a way that compromises academic integrity:
“Can you come back at _________ to talk about how you went about writing this? I’d like to hear more about your thought process.”
“I don’t really like this. It isn’t very good because it just doesn’t sound like you, and I like hearing from you. Can you try drafting this again? I need to hear your voice in your writing.”
“There is some vocabulary in this piece I would like to talk to you about. I would like to hear more about your reasons for choosing the words you chose to express your ideas.”
Learn more about this kind of conversation here.
Brett Vogelsinger 