Provisional Guidelines on the Use of Generative AI in Teaching and Learning  

McMaster has released Provisional Guidelines on the Use of Generative AI in Teaching and Learning. Some key take aways from the provisional guidelines, last updated in August 2023, include:

• Instructors are not required to use generative AI tools for teaching
• Instructors who do incorporate generative AI in their courses should:
  • Ensure the generative AI will support core intended learning outcomes
  • Ensure incorporation offers meaningful learning (not just novelty)
  • Discuss with students the strengths, limitations, and ethical considerations of the technology, as well as the rationale for using it (see Appendix A for examples)
  • Alert students to the privacy policies and user agreements of each tool in the course outline
  • Rely on free versions of tools for student use; Alternatives should be provided for tools that are restricted to users 18+ (e.g., ChatGPT)
• Instructors who include assessments that incorporate generative AI should:
  • Consider including reflective components that invite students to comment on the use of/experience with generative AI in the assessment
  • Explicitly review criteria and/or rubrics in ways that demonstrate how the use of generative AI is being assessed (see Appendix C for example)
• McMaster’s existing academic integrity policy applies when using generative AI
  • Unless otherwise stated, students should assume use of generative AI is prohibited
  • Instructors should clearly communicate if and to what extent generative AI is acceptable in the course in the course outline, verbally in class, and in assessment descriptions (see Appendix B for examples)
  • Likewise, Instructors who incorporate generative AI into courses should explain to students in writing and verbally in-class how generative AI material should be acknowledged or cited (see Appendix A for examples)
  • Instructors may add an honour pledge to assessments (see Appendix D for example)
  • Generative AI plagiarism detection software is currently unavailable or not recommended at McMaster
• Instructors should not submit student work to generative AI tools for feedback without students’ consent and ability to opt-out

To support McMaster educators in learning about the capabilities, limitations and possibilities of generative AI in teaching and learning at McMaster, the MacPherson Insitute has crafted a Generative Artificial Intelligence in Teaching and Learning at McMaster University guidebook that may come in handy to new and experienced instructors alike.