Introduction
A burning question among students is “can I use ChatGPT to do my assignment?”. The answer depends on the intention behind the question. Is the intention to use ChatGPT to actually produce the assignment? Or the intention is to use ChatGPT for support while doing the assignment?
ChatGPT, like other artificial intelligence (AI) tools, can be a force for good in education. Sadly, like many good things, they can be used wrongly. The issue is not ChatGPT but how it is used. This article will cover how ChatGPT and other AI tools can be used acceptably for assignments. Also, unacceptable usage of these AI tools for assignment is looked at.
What is ChatGPT?
ChatGPT is a large language AI model developed by OpenAI. The AI is created to generate human-like responses to natural language queries using different language-based tasks. Some of these tasks are translation, conversation, and summarising. ChatGPT uses texts available on the internet to create an appropriate response to a wide range of queries. There are three versions: GPT-3, GPT-3.5, and GPT-4.
Acceptable Ways to Use ChatGPT for Assignment
There are some generally acceptable ways in which you can use AI tools for your assignment. The same goes for ChatGPT.
Research Aid: You can use AI tools to search for relevant sources and information to back the perspectives and arguments in your assignment. This is a good way to find information quickly and efficiently. The sources you find are then used and cited in your assignment. Learn how to effectively use sources in your assignment here.
Proofreading: AI tools can be very helpful when it comes to editing or proofreading your assignment. They identify errors that are easy to miss and make suggestions for improvements. The overall quality of your assignment can be enhanced this way.
Grammar Support: You can use AI tools to check the grammar and spelling of your assignment. An example is Grammarly. Using these tools can help you improve the quality of your writing with fewer errors. Check more ways that ChatGPT can be used in this Harvard Business School article.
Other Usage: Besides these generally acceptable usages, there may be more specific usage that your lecturer, course or university allows. Ensure to find out. For example, using ChatGPT to generate general ideas that research is then done on may be one. Another may be to assess critical thinking by having students analyse and compare content produced by AI with that of a human.
Unacceptable Ways to Use ChatGPT for Assignment
There are some clearly unacceptable ways when it comes to using AI tools or ChatGPT for assignments.
Deception: The use of AI or ChatGPT to create the impression that an assignment was originally created by a student when it wasn’t is deceptive. In this case, the assignment may have been created by other means. This can lead to serious consequences, some of which are mentioned above.
Terms and Conditions: Some AI tools, including ChatGPT, come with terms and conditions that prohibit using them for assignments and exams. They do not allow usages that violate academic integrity policies. There are legal consequences when they are used in ways that violate their terms and conditions.
Plagiarism: It is not allowed to use AI or ChatGPT to generate your entire assignment or parts of it. Doing this amount to plagiarism which violates the academic integrity policies of most institutions. This will result in serious consequences such as failing the assignment, the course, or even expulsion from the university. However, in an unusual situation when an assignment requires that you produce work using AI, maybe to test your AI proficiency, the instructor will make this clear. In this case, there should be proper citations to avoid plagiarism.
Conclusion
Although ChatGPT and other AI tools can be helpful when doing your assignment, they should only be used to enhance your assignment in acceptable ways. They cannot be used to replace your own ideas, views, perspectives and writing. Where you use them, ensure to check with your lecturer or student services office to be sure following the rules. Finally, it is best practice to use ChatGPT and other AI tools responsibly and ethically. Learn how the sources you find via AI tools can be used like a lecturer in your assignment.
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