Generative AI tools and assistants are multiplying rapidly in all media. In Topic 4 in this course we explore all the ways in which Generative AI (GenAI) can assist you in exploring, planning and developing materials for learning purposes. 

Before we talk about GenAI and learning in more details, please keep in mind that using it for assignments can get in the way of your learning the skills and information that are key to your future success in using educational technologies in your own classrooms. The best way to learn new things is to avoid using GenAI tools early in the learning process for a topic or skill.

If you look at the marking rubrics for the assignments in this course you’ll notice that the majority of the grades are assigned for exploration, experimentation and reflection which can sometimes be messy and unpolished – and that’s great. This learning process is much more important than the final product of this course. 

In addition, the largest percentage of your overall evaluation for the course is your conversation with me (your instructor) after we’ve covered the last topic: Assignment 4. This is the final check I do to ensure that you’ve mastered the main concepts and skills from the course, and have not overly relied on GenAI tools to complete the other assignments in the course.

A Generative AI assessment scale from Dr. Leon Furze

In Topic 4, we will be exploring Generative AI, looking at a range of tools that can help you create lesson plans and learning materials efficiently as well as the ethics and challenges of using these tools. At any point in the course when you use GenAI tools to assist you in completing an assignment, you need to cite your use of them and I’m also asking you reflect on your use of GenAI in your reflection as well in a separate section or paragraph at the bottom of your including:

  • Which tools did you find useful and why did you make the decision to use them? Please use the scale above from Dr. Leon Furze to indicate how you use GenAI on any assignment, and if you used it in more than one way, please include all the ways you used it.
  • What did they make possible for you? What were the trade-offs?
  • What prompt(s) did you use?

Topic 4 will help equip you to cite your use of GenAI properly and discuss it’s use in the context of the assignment. If your in doubt about the use of GenAI in any assignment, please reach out to me so that we can discuss your situation: rmccue@uvic.ca. Please keep in mind that failure to disclose your use of GenAI tools in submitted assignments is a violation of UVic’s policy on academic integrity.

If you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to me: rmccue@uvic.ca