AI is a reality in our current moment and will only become more so in the future. Thus in this class, I want us to consider how to use AI ethically as a tool to enhance learning but not to replace our own creative & intellectual work. AI tools cannot take the place of personal insights, and I don’t want it to take away your opportunities to make creative critical connections as you hone your own analytic skills.

But, within this class*, I do encourage you to—within the limits of your comfort—experiment with using AI as a tool that helps you to study, to think through ideas, and improve your writing. AI can also help students with executive functioning challenges such as ADHD to break down tasks into smaller steps and thus can offer valuable time, project, and task management assistance.

Much as we now may not think twice when we use spell check in google doc or templates in google slides, I believe with time we will come to understand AI more clearly as a tool rather than a replacement for creative intellectual work.

*Please do note that each professor at Middlebury will have their own approach to and rules about AI that you’ll need to be aware of and follow for any given class.

AI Policy for this class (written with the assistance of notion-AI :D)

It's important for students to remember that AI is a tool, not a replacement for hard work and dedicated study. By using AI in a thoughtful and strategic way, students can enhance their learning and achieve their academic goals.

When using AI-powered writing tools for writing for class, it is important to ensure that the use of such tools is ethical. Here are some guidelines to follow:

1. Use AI-powered writing tools as a tool, not a replacement for your own writing skills. While these tools can provide helpful suggestions, it is important to still put in the effort to improve your writing abilities on your own.
2. Make sure you understand how the AI-powered writing tool works and what data it is collecting. Be aware of the privacy policy of the tool and make sure you are comfortable with the information it is collecting and how it is being used.
3. Do not use AI-powered writing tools to plagiarize. It is important to always properly cite your sources and give credit where credit is due.
4. Be aware of bias in AI-powered writing tools. Some tools may have built-in biases based on the data they were trained on. Make sure to critically evaluate the suggestions provided by the tool and be aware of any potential biases.

By following these guidelines, students can use AI-powered writing tools in an ethical way for their personal writing for class.

Here are some ways students can use AI to enhance their learning:

1. Use AI-powered study aids: There are various AI-powered study aids available that can help students to learn more efficiently. For example, some apps use AI algorithms to adapt questions to a student's level of understanding, making it easier for them to learn and retain information.
2. Utilize AI-powered writing tools: AI-powered writing tools can help students to improve their writing skills. These tools can analyze student writing and provide feedback on grammar, spelling, and overall clarity. But be careful not to lose your own writing voice in the process. Sometimes perfect grammar is the enemy of poetic or rhetorical power.
3. Use AI-powered research tools: AI-powered research tools can help students to find relevant information more quickly. These tools can analyze large amounts of data and provide insights that would be difficult for a student to find on their own.
4. Take advantage of AI-powered tutoring: Some tutoring services use AI algorithms to analyze student performance and provide personalized recommendations. This can help students to improve their understanding of a subject and perform better on exams.