Whether you are looking for support on how to learn effectively with or about GenAI, you’ve come to the right spot. Here you will find information about navigating academic integrity when it comes to AI, enhancing your GenAI literacy skills, and opportunities and challenges for postsecondary students using GenAI.
York’s GenAI Policy
At York, our Senate Academic Conduct Policy prohibits the undocumented or unreferenced use of GenAI by students, while further allowing instructors to restrict the use of GenAI tools at the level of the individual course or even for specific tests or assignments. Sections 5.2 and 6.2 of the Policy pertain to GenAI use.
By default, any documented use of GenAI is not a breach of academic integrity unless that use has been explicitly prohibited by the instructor.
Students are expected to be proactive in determining the GenAI policy in their courses, so if you are not clear on whether you can use an AI tool or not, ask your instructor!
If your instructor is open to student use of GenAI, whether in limited ways or with no restrictions at all, you may find the York Library resources on AI: Citing & Academic Integrity useful.
Learning with GenAI
Here are some ways you might find GenAI helpful in supporting your learning.
- Accessibility
- GenAI can be helpful for accessing course content and learning materials – think text-to-speech and video summaries.
- Hidden curriculum
- Ask GenAI to help you navigate some of the common unwritten expectations of postsecondary education, like how to write a great email to your professor or strategies for managing time when you’re new to university.
- Tutoring
- GenAI can coach you on course concepts to help you prepare for upcoming tests or assignments. Ask it not to tell you the answer, but to help you work it out for yourself.
- Scholarly research
- Some GenAI tools can help you navigate scholarly publications more efficiently than a library database. Search for “literature review GenAI tools” to find the latest options.
Challenges with GenAI
As you explore GenAI to support your learning, here are some things to be aware of.
- Accuracy & reliability
- GenAI outputs can contain factual errors and overgeneralisations that are difficult to spot. Be sure to verify information against your existing knowledge of a topic or a reliable source. Visit the GenAI 101 page for more info on these limitations.
- Bias
- GenAI can reproduce implicit or explicit biases and stereotypes. Carefully consider whether its outputs are misrepresentations in any way. Visit the Ethics section of this website for more info on bias in AI.
- Critical thinking
- GenAI is not at its best when it comes to critical thinking – you may find it misses context and nuance and that its outputs are predictable. While it can be a helpful partner, work to develop your own critical thinking skills.
- Learner independence
- Overreliance on GenAI may erode your independence as a learner
,and get in the way of skill development. If you use AI to complete tasks you don’t fully understand, you may not build the necessary skills to perform those tasks independently in the future.
- Overreliance on GenAI may erode your independence as a learner
Digital GenAI Literacy
GenAI literacy refers to understanding and effectively using GenAI tools and technologies. It does not mean you must adopt GenAI, but rather that your approach should be informed and in line with your own needs and values.
Key components of GenAI literacy include:
- Understanding AI fundamentals: Knowing how AI works, its capabilities, and limitations. Check out GenAI 101 to get started.
- Ethical considerations: Recognizing the ethical implications of AI, including bias and privacy concerns. Check out Ethics to learn more.
- Practical application: Gaining hands-on experience with AI tools and platforms. The best way to get started is to pick a tool and just play!
To develop GenAI literacy, students can:
- Learn more about GenAI through some of the resources and websites linked to below, including the York Libraries’ Artificial Intelligence: Workshops, Guides & More
- Explore the impact of GenAI in various contexts, whether that is in your chosen profession, a particular academic discipline, or a specific community.
- Engage in extra- or co-curricular learning opportunities to deepen understanding. For example, LinkedIn Learning is free for YU students and has many offerings about GenAI.
Want to Learn More?
Exploring AI: Students Speak About Their Awareness and Usage of Generative AI
What do we know about how Canadian students are using GenAI? This short article presents results from a recent survey.
A range of experts share their thoughts on how GenAI can support students with learning disabilities.
When It Comes to Critical Thinking, AI Flunks the Test
Read more about what critical thinking is, and why humans still have the edge.