If you’re like me, you’ve probably read something similar to this in discussion board posts or assignment submissions over the past couple of years: “Absolutely — here is a 300+ word version with real quotations, MLA-style in-text citations, and a Works Cited section. I kept the wording natural and avoided making it sound overly formal.”
Moments like this make one thing clear: avoiding conversations about AI won’t make the problem go away. Students are already using these tools, and the most productive response is to talk with them openly about what is and isn’t appropriate in our courses, and why. These conversations can be uncomfortable, but they are where expectations get set and trust gets built.
To support those conversations, the CFC has developed an AI Course Ethics Module that instructors can import into their Canvas courses. This self-contained module helps students build a foundational understanding of the ethical, responsible, and effective use of AI in academic settings. Through activities and resources, students explore academic integrity, appropriate AI use, transparency, bias, privacy, and AI as a learning support. The module encourages them to think critically about how AI can enhance learning while still meeting course standards, and it gives instructors a ready-made starting point for discussing difficult questions with their students and establishing clear course policies around AI usage.
The module is fully customizable. Instructors can adapt the content, activities, and assessments to fit their course objectives, disciplinary expectations, and preferred approach to AI. Guidance for reviewing and modifying the module appears on several unpublished pages visible only to instructors after import.
Faculty interested in piloting the module can import the “AI Course Ethics Module” from Canvas Commons in just a few minutes and use it as-is or tailor it to their course. For step-by-step instructions, review Importing a Resource from Canvas Commons.