Module 4: Teaching GenAI Ethics

This module emphasizes the importance of integrating GenAI ethics into the curriculum to foster responsible GenAI use among all members of the academic community, both in academic environments and beyond. It provides a comprehensive exploration of key ethical considerations, practical strategies for incorporating ethics discussions into coursework, and tools for critical analysis of AI’s impact on education and society at large.

By engaging with this module, educators will be better prepared to navigate the complex ethical landscape of AI in higher education, ensure transparent and ethical use of GenAI tools, and guide students in developing GenAI critical literacy as an essential skill for the 21st century.

Objectives

  • Identify and explain key ethical considerations in the use of GenAI in educational settings.
  • Explore strategies to integrate AI ethics discussions into curriculum.
  • Brainstorm actionable steps to integrate GenAI ethics into teaching practice.

Background

While GenAI tools can enhance learning experiences and teaching efficiency, they also pose several risks related to academic honesty, equitable access, and the preservation of intellectual property. Therefore, “it’s essential that educators start to talk about these issues with students; if we want students to use AI responsibly, both in school and beyond, AI ethics must be baked into curriculum and include AI literacy, an emerging essential skill.” (Bowen & Watson, 2024, p. 3)

Ethical Considerations

It is highly recommended that you review your institution’s policies or statements on AI. Based on these existing policies or guidelines (if applicable), think about implications for teaching when approaching these tools either in designing or delivering your courses.

If there is no AI statement at your institution, consider some of the key ethical and legal considerations when incorporating AI in course work based on Cornell University’s Ethical AI for teaching and learning and JMU’s AI and Ethics in education.

  • Transparency and oversight: it is important to understand how AI tools are developed and what safeguards are in place to protect users from inaccurate information or harmful interactions. Moreover, be clear with students about when and how AI is being used in the course.
  • Bias and fairness: AI systems can perpetuate existing biases depending on how they are trained and what data they are trained on. Ensuring that the use of AI tools does not discriminate against certain groups is a critical ethical consideration. This includes making sure AI applications are accessible to all students, regardless of their background.
  • Privacy and data security: AI systems often require large amounts of data, raising concerns about how this data is stored, who has access to it, and how it is used. Protecting student privacy and ensuring data security are essential to prevent misuse of personal information.
  • Environmental impact: the energy consumption associated with training large AI models can have significant environmental impacts. Educators should consider the sustainability of AI technologies and their broader environmental implications.
  • Teacher-student relationship: no tools can replace human interaction and educational support. Thus, overreliance on GenAI might erode important social skills and teacher-student relationships.

Strategies for Incorporating Ethical Considerations into the Curriculum

Imagine how you would incorporate ethical considerations into your curriculum. It is not ideal to have to think about this as we try to solve some of the world’s problems, but, as ethical users, it is important for educators to develop awareness around these concerns and to help learners stay aware and digitally healthy when approaching these tools. Here are some common recommendations:

Integrate ethics discussion into GenAI-related coursework.

Example: AI ethics debate

Divide the class into teams and assign each team an ethical dilemma related to AI in education. Example topics: “Should AI-generated essays be allowed in coursework?” or “Is it ethical to use AI to detect students’ work?” Have teams research their positions and present arguments in a structured debate format. Follow up with a class discussion on the complexity of these issues.

Use case studies to illustrate real-world ethical dilemmas.

Example: Co-create AI policy

Invite students to work together to create an AI use policy for a particular assignment, activity, or course. Ask them to address issues such as acceptable AI use, data privacy and protection, and academic integrity. Have the groups present their policies and discuss the reasoning underpinning their decisions.

Encourage critical thinking about AI’s impact on society and education in general.

Example: GenAI bias investigation

Provide students with datasets or AI-generated content that shows bias. Ask them to identify biases and discuss the implications for an educational context. Extend this activity by having students propose ways to mitigate these biases.

Provide clear guidelines on appropriate GenAI use in assignments

Example: GenAI first support session

In this session, invite students to think about what ways GenAI supports their learning process and in what ways it interferes with this process, creating imbalances in relationship building, critical thinking, or creativity development. Provide students with a list of sample statements and offer them specific details of how GenAI is allowed or not allowed in the coursework. For example, using GenAI to do an outline or first draft, using GenAI tool to fix spelling and grammar, using GenAI tool to rewrite the whole paragraph, etc. More information can be found in the next section of this module.

Discuss how the use of GenAI aligns with the core values and educational goals of the institution and the course

Example: GenAI ethical uses panel

Invite institutional and departmental experts to discuss institutional and departmental core values and how they related to AI. Educator(s) can host the panel and students can prepare questions in advance and engage in a Q&A session with panelists.

Stay informed about evolving AI regulations and best practices

Example: AI ethics journaling

Assign weekly prompts related to AI ethics in education. Have students reflect on their experiences and changing perspectives. Periodically, share insights from your own journal and invite students to share thoughts and stories from their journals in class discussions.

Further Reading

Explore Leon Furze’s series of articles on different aspects of AI Ethics. This series delves into the nuanced aspects of AI ethics, exploring how they intersect with writing instruction and broader educational practices. Each article in the series provides a thorough examination of a specific ethical issue and offers practical suggestions for educators seeking to integrate these discussions into their classrooms. Whether you’re a novice in the realm of AI ethics or seeking to deepen your understanding, Furze’s series is an invaluable resource.

Note: At the conclusion of each article, Furze provides tailored suggestions for incorporating AI ethics into various teaching disciplines, making this series a practical tool for educators across fields.

Activity: GenAI ethics action plan

  • Choose one ethical consideration from the list provided in the sample worksheet (bias and discrimination, environment, truth and academic integrity, copyright, privacy, datafication, affect recognition, or power.)
  • Develop at least one actionable step to incorporate GenAI ethics into your teaching practice.
  • Consider the following questions:
    1. How does this ethical consideration relate to your specific subject area or teaching context?
    2. What challenges might you face in addressing this ethical issue?
    3. What resources or support might you need in order to implement your action plan?
  • Share your action plan in a small group. Provide constructive feedback and suggestions to each other

Sample worksheet: Developing your GenAI ethics action plan (developed with ChatGPT 4)

Step 1: Identify an ethical consideration

Choose one of the following ethical considerations related to GenAI that you wish to focus on in your teaching practice:

  • Bias and discrimination
  • Environmental impact
  • Truth and academic integrity
  • Copyright
  • Privacy
  • Datafication
  • Affect recognition
  • Power

Selected ethical consideration:                                                               

Step 2: Define specific goals

Outline what you aim to achieve by addressing this ethical consideration. Goals should be SMART (specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, time-bound).

Example goal: Increase student awareness and understanding of AI bias and discrimination by integrating case studies into the curriculum by the end of the semester.

Your goals:

  1.                                                                                                 
  2.                                                                                                 
  3.                                                                                                 

Step 3: Action steps

List the specific actions you will take to meet your goals. Consider activities, curriculum changes, policy updates, and any other relevant actions.

Example action step: Incorporate a new module on AI biases in the upcoming semester’s syllabus that includes guest lectures, case studies, and project-based learning activities.

Your action steps:

  1.                                                                                                 
  2.                                                                                                 
  3.                                                                                                 

Step 4: Resources needed

Identify the resources you need to implement your action steps. This might include educational materials, technology tools, expert assistance, or time allocations.

Example resources: Access to up-to-date research papers on AI bias, availability of guest lecturers, or classroom technology for presentations.

Resources needed:

  1.                                                                                                 
  2.                                                                                                 
  3.                                                                                                 

Step 5: Evaluation and feedback

Determine how you will measure the success of your action plan and how you will collect feedback from students and peers.

Example evaluation method: Use pre- and post-module surveys to assess changes in student understanding of AI ethics.

Evaluation and feedback methods:

  1.                                                                                                 
  2.                                                                                                 
  3.                                                                                                 

Step 6: Reflection and adjustments

Plan how you will reflect on the outcomes of your action plan and make necessary adjustments.

Example reflection method: Review student feedback and survey results at the end of the semester to decide if further revisions to the curriculum are needed.

Reflection and adjustments:

  1.                                                                                                 
  2.                                                                                                 
  3.                                                                                                 

Additional notes

Use this space to jot down any additional thoughts, potential challenges, or ideas you have while developing your action plan.

Notes:

 

 

Summary

This module provided educators with an understanding of the ethical implications of using AI in educational settings. It covered key ethical considerations, strategies for integrating ethics discussions into the curriculum, and practical approaches to guiding students in responsible AI use. The module provided an opportunity for educators to develop a GenAI ethics action plan, allowing them to start planning concrete steps to implement ethical AI practices in their classrooms.

Final Reflective Questions

Choose one of the following questions:

  • What specific strategies from this module do you plan to implement in your teaching practice?
  • In what ways do you think teaching AI ethics will impact your students’ approach to using AI tools, both in their academic work and in their future careers?
  • Reflecting on your GenAI ethics action plan, how do you anticipate this specific focus on an ethical consideration will impact your students’ understanding and use of AI technologies?

License

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GenAI in Teaching and Learning Toolkit Copyright © by Gwen Nguyen is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License, except where otherwise noted.

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