What is the generative AI policy for students?
ICLS student policy to generative AI: permitted study uses, banned assignment help, required disclosure, privacy cautions, and student accountability.
Generative Artificial Intelligence (Gen AI) refers to machine learning models capable of generating text, images, audio, or other content based on user inputs. Examples include ChatGPT, Google Gemini, Claude, Midjourney and any software that leverages Gen AI capability, such as Grammarly.
This policy delineates appropriate and inappropriate uses of generative AI by ICLS students.
Appropriate Use of Generative AI
Generative AI can be a valuable tool for adult learners studying languages when used appropriately. Students may use Gen AI for:
- Practice speaking situations using an ICLS approved platform.
- Generating vocabulary lists relevant to their line of work.
- Creating audio and written texts for practice, such as dialogues or short paragraphs.
- Receiving grammar explanations, examples of words or rules in context, and clarifications on language use.
- Receive feedback on writing, providing corrections and suggestions for improving grammar, sentence structure and style.
- Simplifying or breaking down complex texts to align with their ILR proficiency level.
- Assisting with the creation of outlines, or brainstorming ideas.
- Looking up factual information (with proper verification from credible sources).
- Generating images and videos (see disclosure statement below).
Prohibited Uses of Generative AI
Students may not use AI to complete their work for them. For example, students may not use generative AI:
- To complete homework assignments (e.g., writing compositions, translation tasks, or grammar exercises).
- To answer discussion board prompts or reflection questions.
- To complete quizzes or exams, including take-home tests.
- To write or revise essays or projects intended to assess language proficiency.
- To generate responses for oral practice or recordings.
Using Gen AI in these contexts undermines personal language development and can misrepresent a student’s proficiency. An over-reliance on AI may also weaken your independent understanding of certain aspects of the language and your key skills in these areas. delay progress and may result in poor performance during testing.
Student Responsibility, Disclosure & Safety
Students are 100% responsible for the content they submit
Any factual errors, inaccuracies, or hallucinations produced by AI are the student’s responsibility. Students are responsible for assuring the content produced by AI is not confidential, protected, or copyrighted information.
Students must disclose their use of AI
When submitting work that has been influenced by generative AI, use of such AI must be disclosed as part of the submission.
Students must understand privacy and security limitations of AI tools
Any information they share with an AI tool is no longer private and may be used in ways they cannot control. They should never share sensitive, personal, or confidential information about themselves, others, or their organization with AI systems.
Students must be cautious about sharing personal or sensitive information with AI tools, as this data may be stored or used in unintended or malicious ways. Students must also understand that AI may retain portions of their data, which could lead to privacy breaches.
Limitations and Risks of Generative AI
While Gen AI can be useful, it is important to recognize its limitations. It can be biased and may present information with cultural or factual inaccuracies. It can hallucinate, meaning it may generate false or misleading content. It can generate content with spelling and grammar errors, especially in low density languages.
Students are responsible for verifying information obtained from AI by consulting additional credible sources. Students are fully responsible for any content created with AI, including all ethical considerations and limitations.
Conclusion
The use of AI should enhance, not replace, the learning process. Students are expected to engage actively with language learning tasks to develop their skills effectively. AI is a supplementary tool, not a substitute for independent effort and critical thinking.
Disclosure: This policy document was created with the assistance of ChatGPT at the drafting stage in order to clarify the message and eliminate typos.