Having Conversations with Students
Communication with your students about generative AI use is essential. The syllabus statement on generative AI is a foundation on which to build conversations with students on proper and ethical generative AI usage. It is a good idea to continue the generative AI conversation beyond the syllabus. Talk with students early and often about generative AI and let them know course policies. It will also be beneficial to explain how the course policy was decided upon and what the potential consequences are if the policies are not followed.
Here are some tips on having conversations about generative AI use with your students: 
- C.L.A.R.I.F.Y. AI use in your classroom.
- Discuss your policy in multiple places, at multiple times, and in multiple ways.
- Put your policy in places that are prominent or easy to see rather than hidden in a paragraph that includes other items. For example, place your policy near the front of the syllabus or somewhere near your sections on plagiarism and citation. You can also add your policy in additional places in the syllabus that may be relevant.
- Where relevant, include a discussion of generative AI tools in the descriptions or instructions for individual assignments.
- Discuss with your students verbally at the beginning of a course and also during relevant portions of the course.
- Provide resources about AI, its uses, ethical debates, plagiarism, citation, etc. to involve students in the larger discussion of generative AI tools.
- Use plain, direct, and accurate language during generative AI discussions.
- Use conversations about generative AI as a starting point to talk about the ethics of these tools and the larger ethical dimensions. Explain the value of what you're teaching to your students and the value of them learning it for themselves.
- Make students aware of the potential pitfalls of generative AI, such as bias and hallucinations.
- Don't be afraid to discuss the gray areas with your students. Involve them in ongoing conversations as we progress using these new technologies.
- Encourage your students to use proper citations. Communicate your preferred method of citation to them. Ask them to be honest and open to share their prompts, share their results wherever relevant, and how they use them.
- Guide students and give them some insight into how generative AI will be used in their future careers and disciplines.
- Let students know that the tools are a good starting point, but they need outside sources, knowledge, and information to assess the results.
- Guide your students in using generative AI tools, such as writing queries, analyzing results, interrogating the bots’ responses, and using other sources.
- Encourage your students to come to you if they have questions about how to use these tools.