Acceptable AI usage
We encourage the responsible and ethical use of generative Artificial Intelligence by learners on learn.inasp.info
We are guided by the following aims and principles;
- We want you as researchers to develop your own critical thinking skills and literacy when using AI
- We want you as researchers to retain your creativity and innovative thinking, avoiding over reliance on AI
- We acknowledge that AI can be a helpful tool to reduce barriers to learning
- We acknowledge that AI has harmful impacts including for the people who train models, the environmental costs, bias and the disruptions to energy infrastructures
- We acknowledge the complaints of copyright by creative authors
- We value the creative commons/ open access model when knowledge is shared
Guidelines (or guardrails) for your use of AI
We ask that learners disclose any use of AI tools to assist them in their learning outputs. We also advise that you keep your own log of the query or tool you used.
Encouraged and discouraged uses:
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Encouraged use of AI |
Discouraged use that could lead to revoking of badges or credentials |
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Language translation Assistive technology e.g. text to speech Proof reading or readability checking with critical analysis of any AI generated suggestions e.g. Grammarly, Hemingway etc Summarisation or clarification of text or videos Developing personalised study materials/questions or changing the format of materials in tools like MS Copilot study, NotebookLM Troubleshooting or technical assistance
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Using AI browsers or plugins to take quizzes or surveys Personal note takers at live sessions- because we will post recordings of sessions after and other learners have not consented to their presence Verbatim copy pasting text for forum posts, assignments- this is likely to accidentally plagiarise and will not lead to accurate feedback Using AI to generate feedback for peer marking of assignments, because the learner has not consented to sharing their intellectual property and possibly unpublished research materials AI generated images as entries to photo competitions |
Why we developed this policy
We distribute badges and certificates to acknowledge learners who have met the skills set in online courses, and we want to retain their rigor and value. We appreciate the considerable time spent by the learners who have not used AI at all.
We encourage researchers to share their own experiences and reflections from the hundreds of different countries that are represented in the forums- this ensures that the richness and diversity of the global research community is showcased to counter the bias of the wider information ecosystem.
Where verbatim AI is used in the comments for forums/ assignments/ surveys the answers are monotonous, boring and repetitive, and asking facilitators to reply to them is not a good use of time as they cannot identify accurate skills to give personalised feedback.
We would like to retain the privacy of the learners’ data and their agency to control their own intellectual property on the site, so they can consent when they want to share their own data with an AI browser plugin.
We don’t mind imperfection, our site doesn’t expect polished forum posts or perfect assignments. We acknowledge that perfectionism is a hallmark of oppressive working cultures that perpetuate racism (Okun 1999).
Further materials
If you are interested in
- using AI in your research workflow or teaching, join the AI learning pathway.
- AI across national research ecosystems, explore the ISC’s working paper.
- how AI can be used more responsible digitally, explore the Digital Principles for Development by DIAL.
Review
Please email us with any feedback info@risingscholars.info
References
Okun, Temu (1999) White supremacy culture, https://www.whitesupremacyculture.info/uploads/4/3/5/7/43579015/okun_-_white_sup_culture.pdf