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Artificial Intelligence

This guide will help you learn the fundamentals of using generative Artificial Intelligence for your academic work.
   

Generative AI and Coursework

Important:
  • Ask your instructor before using AI tools for assignments and coursework. 
  • Unless your instructor says otherwise, assume using AI tools is not allowed. If you use AI tools without permission, it could be considered academic misconduct. Learn more on our Academic Integrity Guide.
  • If AI tools are permitted, you must still cite or acknowledge their use, as required by your course.
  • Consider whether generative AI is the right tool for your learning and research.

Does my instructor allow the use of AI for my assignment?

YES! My instructor allows the use of AI for my assignment

If your instructor allows the use of AI, you must ensure that you:

  • use only the approved AI tools
  • use them only in the way that is permitted
  • cite or acknowledge your use of AI

If you are permitted to use AI generated content, properly cite your information using a citation style.

If you are using it in other ways, we recommend that you include an acknowledgment of how you used the AI tool, including your prompt(s) and the generated output with your assignment.

NO! My instructor DOES NOT ALLOW the use of AI for my assignment

If your instructor does not allow the use of AI, you must ensure that you:

  • do not use any AI tools to complete your assignment
  • understand that using AI tools without permission is considered academic misconduct (Unauthorized Use). Learn more on our Academic Integrity Guide.

Examples

Example 1
Your instructor says that you can use Copilot to come up with five arguments for and five against recycling, but that you then must discuss the arguments critically using sources from RDP Library.

In this situation, you are only allowed to ask Copilot for the arguments. You are NOT allowed to ask Copilot to evaluate or compare the arguments. In this example, you would need to properly cite the output Copilot created, and of course, the resources you found in the library as well. We also recommend that you acknowledge that you used Copilot for brainstorming of your arguments.

Adapted from Thomas Rivers University's "Artificial Intelligence: A Guide for Students" by Brenda Smith licensed CC BY-NC-SA 4.0.

Example 2
Your instructor has not specified whether or not you are allowed to use generative AI for your assignment. You've double-checked your assignment instructions, but you don't see any wording to help you. Your assignment is due soon, and you don't have time to ask your instructor.

In this situation, you should assume that you are NOT allowed to use AI to complete any part of your assignment. Unless your instructor says otherwise, assume using AI tools is not allowed. If you use AI tools without permission, it could be considered academic misconduct. Learn more on our Academic Integrity guide.

Generative AI @ RDP

colourful copilot logoRDP provides Copilot Chat (Basic) to all students, staff, and faculty as part of our Microsoft 365 environment.

The RDP version of Copilot runs in a secure, closed system. This means what you type into Copilot is not used to train the AI or shared publicly. Because of this, it’s considered "safer" than many free, public AI tools you might find online (ChatGPT, Gemini, etc.), but you should still apply care and judgment to both inputs and outputs.

Students are expected to follow RDP’s Academic Integrity expectations, use critical judgment, and ensure all submitted work reflects their own learning and understanding.

TIP: Use Microsoft Copilot instead of ChatGPT!