Using AI in your teaching
Informed and ethical use and understanding of AI are integral to curricula and will be crucial in developing students' ability to navigate a technologically driven society.
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sing a large language model (LLM) like ChatGPT in your teaching can be very powerful provided you are aware of the nuances of the tool and have experimented with it in context of your discipline. Generative AI technology requires a level of prompt writing literacy, without this the tool will not produce useful output and can potentially produce misleading and incorrect guidance and content. It should also be emphasized that the use of AI is closely intertwined with a sound understanding of a discipline’s knowledge base and that it does not replace it.
There are many potential uses for AI in your teaching, but its use must be thoughtful and deliberate ensuring that you leverage AI capabilities without compromising the human touch. You should also ensure that you carefully consider the known limitations of ChatGPT and other artificial intelligence tools. Please note that many “open” generative AI platforms are not secure. While these may be suitable for experimentation, you should NOT enter any private, personal or protected information into these systems.
All University of Newcastle staff have access to Microsoft Copilot, which offers a safe platform that safeguards user and business data from cyber threats. See more on how to access Copilot at Elevate your Working Experience with Microsoft Copilot .
You are able to use Copilot to experiment with prompting and review the type and quality of the output it produces. This output provides a sound starting ‘template’ that you can modify to your needs. Note that ChatGPT output is never intended as a replacement for your own thinking, it is most productive to think of it as a rough starting ‘mesh’ or framework rather than a final product.
Take a look at the AI for Education GenAI Chatbot Prompt Library for Educators for suggestions related to Assessment, Communication, Lesson Planning, and more.
Further Reading
Visit the Artificial Intelligence Working Group SharePoint page for additional resources.
- University of Newcastle Student Conduct Rule
- Incorporating AI in your classes (from TEQSA Higher Ed Good Practice Hub)
- Guidelines for Teaching Staff (from AAIN Generative Artificial Intelligence Guidelines)
- OpenAI Teaching with AI and Educator FAQs
- ChatGPT Prompt Writing Resource
- Artificial Intelligence Community of Practice
The University of Newcastle acknowledges the traditional custodians of the lands within our footprint areas: Awabakal, Darkinjung, Biripai, Worimi, Wonnarua, and Eora Nations. We also pay respect to the wisdom of our Elders past and present.