Prompt Reflection and Critical Thinking
If you can provide opportunities for students to reflect on your learning process and use of AI, they may better be able to monitor their use in the future. Below are some example reflection prompts you can ask your students to respond to throughout an assignment.
Before Use
- How am I going to use the tool? (To replace or enhance?)
- Have I been given permission to use the tool in that context?
- Is my intention to learn or to just get a grade?
- Do I know how to use the tool?
- Do I understand the strengths and limitations of the tool?
During Use
- Is the output biased?
- Is the output accurate (or is it hallucinating)?
- Is there a better prompt? Can I ask a different or better question?
- Are there other ways to do this WITHOUT AI tools?
- Am I acquiring the learning objectives of the course or assignment by using the AI tool?
- Where did the output come from (source, authorship)?
- Are the printed sources accurate?
- Have I vetted alternative perspectives?
- Am I using the tool appropriately according to our definition of ethical use of AI tools?
If you can provide opportunities for students to reflect on your learning process and use of AI, they may better be able to monitor their use in the future. Below are some example reflection prompts you can ask your students to respond to throughout an assignment. Note, you may want to consider submissions that are difficult for GenAI to produce, such as a video or hand-written reflection.
Before Use
- How am I going to use the tool? (To replace or enhance?)
- Have I been given permission to use the tool in that context?
- Is my intention to learn or to just get a grade?
- Do I know how to use the tool?
- Do I understand the strengths and limitations of the tool?
During Use
- Is the output biased?
- Is the output accurate (or is it hallucinating)?
- Is there a better prompt? Can I ask a different or better question?
- Are there other ways to do this WITHOUT AI tools?
- Am I acquiring the learning objectives of the course or assignment by using the AI tool?
- Where did the output come from (source, authorship)?
- Are the printed sources accurate?
- Have I vetted alternative perspectives?
- Am I using the tool appropriately according to our definition of ethical use of AI tools?
After Use
- Short & Sweet Example: Add a note indicating which AI tool you used and how you used it, including the prompt(s) you used and the date(s)
- Learning Focused Example: 1) In what ways did AI help you achieve your learning goals for this assignment/project? What aspects of the learning process were not assisted by AI? Explain why
- Critical Lens Example: What steps did you take to ensure the ethical use of AI in your work? How could you improve your use of AI tools in the future?
- Use & Authorship Focused Example: Write a brief paragraph at the end of your work (1) explaining how and why you used ChatGPT. Include the prompts you used, and answer this question: Who is the author of this work? Then explain your answer.
Other reflection prompts to consider
- Are my original ideas present in my work?
- Am I spreading misinformation or perpetuating harmful ideas, biases, etc.?
- How did I use the tool?
- How did it affect my learning?
- How did this assignment (and use of AI tools) help me advance my understanding of the content or learning objectives?
- Have I been transparent about my use of AI tools?
- Have I cited original authors and sources appropriately?
- Have I cited my use of the AI tool appropriately?
- Have I plagiarized (knowingly or unknowingly)?
(modified from Charlotte AI Institute for Smarter Learning 2023)
