Teaching & Learning with AI

WCU’s AI Use Policy

WCU does not have standardized policy for the use of AI since faculty and/or programs are free to make independent determinations about acceptable students’ use of AI in the classroom and in coursework. Faculty and/or programs are welcome to independently develop policies for their courses.

If AI is permitted for use in a course, faculty are strongly urged to include instructions to students to exclusively use the approved AI platform, MS CoPilot.

What to Include in Your AI Course Policy Statement

Many of the strategies for writing effective course policies in general, such as using student-centered language, aiming for transparency and precision, providing examples, and using them as a starting point for conversations with students, would apply here as well (Gannon, 2023). Remember that some students may not be aware of campus policies or have varying degrees of preparation for navigating such issues, so they would likely benefit from a clear and comprehensive statement about AI use in your course.

Consider the following when developing your AI course policy:

What is the policy and what tools does it apply to specifically?
When does it apply? What conditions or contexts allow or preclude the use of AI?
What processes and consequences result from non-compliance?
What rationale and reasoning guide this policy?
How do you provide support to students in relation to this policy?
How does the policy show support for student well-being?

You might find the AI Assessment Scale useful while developing your policy and course assignments.

Talk with Your Students about Ethical AI Use

AI Course Ethics Module

The CFC launched a module instructors can import into their Canvas course. The goal of this module is to help students learn the importance of using AI ethically in their college studies. It is a self-contained module that is intended to be customized by each instructor as desired to fit their teaching needs. Instructions are included in non-published pages of the module.

If you are interested in piloting the module, import the “AI Course Ethics Module” from Canvas Commons. For step-by-step instructions, review Importing a Resource from Canvas Commons.

Foundational Generative AI Literacy and Responsible Use Course

The UNC System has created a Foundational Generative AI Literacy and Responsible Use Course. The purpose of this course is to assist students in developing critical understanding, evaluation, and use of generative AI. The course is intended as an optional and flexible resource that faculty may adopt, adapt, and customize to meet their needs. Outcomes include:

Learners will explain what generative AI (Gen AI) tools are and how they work.
Learners will identify the benefits and challenges of using Gen AI in various academic, professional, and creative settings.
Learners will critically evaluate Gen AI outputs for errors and biases.
Learners will demonstrate Gen AI literacy skills responsibly in a range of academic, professional, and creative settings.

If you are interested in reviewing the course’s modules and/or incorporating all or parts of the resource in your course, please reach out to the CFC @ cfc.wcu.edu.

Navigating AI in Higher Ed

Teaching & Learning with AI is a fully asynchronous online four-week course for instructors at WCU and was designed by the Coulter Faculty Commons. This course includes a Getting Started module, three content modules, and a resource module, and discussions to reflect on how GenAI impacts your teaching.

The goal of this course is to support instructors in navigating the AI landscape in higher education. By the end of this course, you will be able to:

Explore resources related to AI in higher ed
Discuss how AI impacts your teaching with colleagues
Reflect on how you want to navigate AI in your own courses
Devise a plan on how to approach AI in your own courses

Resources

WCU AI_Enabled Team: AI_Enabled Portal (SharePoint with resources) and AI_Enabled Website