Before diving in, it is imporatnt to pause and consider ethical implications. Using Generative AI necessitates our attention to ensure positive and unbiased interactions. Think about what Generative AI means for your students, your academic field, our institution, and your individual courses. Keep those in mind throughout your process. Next, consider how you could use these tools to enhance your work, as an educator, collaborator, and assistant. Educators can leverage Gen AI to streamline tasks, create assignments, aid in planning and developing student communication and feedback. By exploring AI as an ally, with ethical considerations in mind, educators open doors to practical insights and possibilities.
Here are some key ethical considerations:
Respecting Student Privacy: Prioritize the privacy and confientiality of student data.
Equity: Be mindful of potential biases in prompts, as Gen AI tools may replicate biases present in the training data.
Promoting Academic Integrity: Ensure that prompts align with the principles of academic integrity. Avoid using Gen AI to generate content that could be considered plagiarism.
Hallucinations or making up information in AI chatbots may provide information that appears authentic but is inaccurate or lacking basis in reality.
Copyright is a challenge because it is currently unclear who owns the copyright to creative work generated by AI.
Obtaining informated Consent for Research: If using Gen AI in research involving students, ensure proper informed consent is obtained.
Avoiding Harmful Content: Exercise caution to prevent the dissemination of misinformation or content that could negatively impact students.
Transparency in Teaching Methods: Clearly communicate which uses of generative AI (if any) you find appropriate and inappropriate for your class work. Inform students about the role of AI in generating content, fostering transparency and understanding among the student body.
Continued Professional Development: Stay informed about advancements in AI ethics and guidelines.
Student Learning: Consider whether an assignment that asks students to integrate generative AI undermines student learning.
Environmental Impacts: Generative AI models require substantial energy and resources for training, contributing to climate change. The UNESCO AI guide urges us to develop sustainable targets and strategies to minimize this environmental footprint and align our AI use with sustainability goals.