Concrete examples
Knowing when and how to use AI for your studies is sometimes difficult. On this page, you will find examples of how you may generally use AI in your studies, and what you generally speaking should not do. However, please note that your teacher may impose more restrictive rules, or even decide that students are not allowed to use AI at all. Many teachers also want you to explain what AI tools you have used and how. Always check what applies to your course or assignment!
How AI may generally be used in your studies and why
- For generating ideas that you then evaluate and develop by yourself.
- For developing a basic understanding of an idea or research field before you deepen your search to get a more comprehensive and unbiased picture of the field.
- For overcoming writer's block by asking AI to generate a few lines about your topic to inspire you. You then edit, write and develop the text, that is, you make it your own.
- For creating an outline of a text, which you then evaluate and develop on your own.
- For improving your text by letting an AI tool generate suggestions for changes, which you review carefully, both in terms of content and wording. You then make informed decisions about how to revise your text (Tip! Prompt the tools to explain why changes and/or suggestions have been made).
- For helping you in the reading process, for example by creating a simplified version of a text before you read the whole text.
- For translating text. Note that you will still need to check the accuracy of the translation, especially regarding terminology.
- For creating quiz questions that can help you learn. Read more about using AI to create quiz questions.
All of these examples of when it is generally okay to use AI have a few things in common:
- You use AI as a tool, but you do all the work yourself and the text is your own.
- You double-check everything, assess all suggestions carefully, and can fully vouch for what is written in your text.
- You make sure you learn as much, or even more, while using AI.
- Your teacher can assess your learning because the text, or other end product such as exam, is your own.
How AI may generally not be used AI in your studies and why
- For generating an entire text or long parts of a text, even if you read it through and determine that the text seems reasonable.
- For generating an entire text or long parts of a text, even if you double-check the content and the references carefully.
- For generating an entire text or large parts of a text, even if you change it a great deal (including double-checking content and references).
- For changing so much of your text that it no longer constitutes your own work.
- For changing so much of your text that your teacher can no longer assess your knowledge and give you a grade that reflects what you have learnt.
All these examples of when it is generally not okay to use generative AI have a few things in common:
- You let the AI tools do the work. The text is not your own.
- It is uncertain whether you can vouch for all the content.
- You have learned less than if you had not used these tools.
- It becomes very difficult for your teacher to assess your work fairly. You have not demonstrated what you know and your critical thinking skills in your text.
Quick facts
- You may generally use generative AI as tools, but the tools must not take over and do the work of learning or writing for you.
- You must be able to vouch for everything in your text/assignment.
- Your teacher must be able to assess your learning based on your text.
The teacher should be able to assess your knowledge
An assignment has two main functions:
- You should learn something while working on the assignment.
- You should show your teacher what you know, what you can do, and what you have learned, so that they can assess your knowledge and abilities in order to give you the right grade.
For an assignment to fulfill these two functions, your text must be your own. If you prompt an AI tool to produce a text for you, you will learn very little. It will also be difficult for your teacher to assess what you have learned.
Some questions you may consider are:
- Can your teacher read your text and assess your learning?
- Do you think that your teacher would approve of your use of AI?
- Would you feel comfortable telling your teacher how you used AI?
If you hesitate to answer yes to these questions, it may be a sign that you have used AI too much and that you should discuss the matter with your teacher. Ultimately, it is always your teacher who decides exactly how you may use AI for an assignment. Your teacher may therefore prohibit you from using AI altogether, because they believe that using AI will impair your learning, and/or their ability to assess what you have learned.
Ask if you are uncertain
The AI technology available today is still new, and consensus about how to use it ethically and responsibly is still being determined. A good way to move forward is therefore to talk openly to others, both fellow students and teachers, about how you are using AI. Ask questions; it is likely that others are wondering the same thing you are. Also, try to understand that your teacher may not always have all the answers right away. This is a big change for them too. Ask them to consider your questions and get back to you.
Finally, if you are honest and transparent with your teacher about how you use AI tools for your assignments, you cannot cheat, because you are not trying to mislead them. However, you may still need to redo assignments, or parts of them, if your teacher deems that you have used AI to such an extent that you cannot demonstrate that you have met the course objectives and/or that they cannot assess your assignment fairly.
Keep in mind!
You are always responsible for your own learning and what you produce in your studies.
Make sure you do so with academic integrity, that is, be transparent about how you use AI tools and do not use them more than is permitted for your course.
Do not share personal information, sensitive data or copyrighted material with the tools.
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