Teaching Students How to Collaboratively Write with AI

Introduction

This module is designed to integrate AI (Artificial Intelligence) into various stages of the writing process, encouraging students to explore the potential of AI as a collaborative tool while maintaining a critical perspective on its contributions. Strategies within this module will encourage students to actively engage with AI writing tools, critically assess their outputs, and reflect on the broader implications of AI in the writing process. Faculty can adapt these prompts to fit specific course themes, disciplines, or AI tools available. 

Learning Objectives

• Explore effective AI integration techniques within the writing process
• Review practical examples to implement in any course which emphasize using AI as a tool for various writing stages
• Access resources for ongoing learning in AI technology and writing pedagogy

Applications

Introduce students to an AI language model tool (like ChatGPT), which is capable of generating human-like text based on input prompts. Explain how ChatGPT can assist in various aspects of writing, including brainstorming, drafting, and editing. Provide immediate clarity on AI being used as a tool, not a replacement for human creativity. Communicate this to students immediately and often throughout implementation.

Example Communication:

As we delve deeper into our exploration of artificial intelligence (AI), it's essential to remember a fundamental principle: AI is a tool, not a replacement for human creativity.

While AI possesses remarkable capabilities in data analysis, pattern recognition, and problem-solving, it lacks the innate creativity, intuition, and empathy that define human intelligence. As future professionals in various fields, it's crucial to understand the symbiotic relationship between AI and human creativity.

AI can augment our capabilities, streamline processes, and uncover insights from vast datasets. However, it's our unique human perspective, imagination, and emotional intelligence that drive innovation and bring depth to our work. Whether you're in education, science, business, or any other discipline, your creativity and critical thinking skills remain indispensable.

As you engage with AI technologies throughout your academic journey and beyond, keep in mind that they are tools to enhance your abilities, not substitutes for your ingenuity. Embrace the opportunities they present while retaining the essence of what makes your contributions uniquely human.

Let's continue to explore the boundaries of AI while celebrating the boundless potential of human creativity.

Guide students on how to access and use ChatGPT. Provide instructions on how to interact with ChatGPT effectively. Consider producing instructional videos demonstrating key steps, such as logging in, formulating prompts, and interpreting results. By showcasing their own engagement with AI tools, faculty not only demonstrate their proficiency but also reassure students of their awareness and competence in leveraging these resources effectively. This proactive approach can serve as a deterrent against improper use of AI, as students are more likely to follow responsible practices when they see their instructors leading by example. Students should be encouraged to craft clear and specific prompts to ChatGPT to generate relevant responses. Presenting examples of both effective and ineffective prompts, followed by an analysis of the resulting outcomes, could prove to be a valuable exercise during initial explorations.

Encourage or require students to include “Can you help me…” within their prompts. This will facilitate a back-and-forth dialogue between students and ChatGPT. Therefore, students can actively participate in the writing process while receiving guidance and feedback from ChatGPT as a supportive coach. This approach allows for more input from students and fosters a collaborative writing experience. Potential areas of focus for prompts could be brainstorming, drafting, or editing.

Brainstorming Example:

Student Input: "I'm working on an essay about the impact of technology on education. Can you help me brainstorm some key points to include in the introduction?"

ChatGPT Response: "Absolutely! Let's start by discussing the current role of technology in education. What are some specific advancements or challenges you'd like to address?"

Student Input: "I want to explore how technology has transformed teaching methods and student learning experiences."

ChatGPT Response: "Great focus! Let's formulate a thesis statement that captures the transformative impact of technology on education. How would you summarize the main argument of your essay?"

Student Input: "I believe that technology has revolutionized education by enhancing accessibility, personalized learning, and collaboration."

ChatGPT Response: "Excellent thesis statement! Now, let's outline the key points you'll discuss in the body paragraphs. What examples or evidence can you provide to support your argument?"

Drafting Example:

Student Input: "I'm ready to start drafting the body paragraphs. Can you help me expand on the first point about enhanced accessibility?"

ChatGPT Response: "Of course! Let's delve into how technology has improved access to education for students worldwide. Can you provide specific examples or statistics to illustrate this point?"

Student Input: "I'd like to discuss how online courses and digital resources have made learning more accessible to students in remote areas."

ChatGPT Response: "Great idea! Let's explore how online platforms have expanded educational opportunities beyond traditional classroom settings. How do you envision this trend impacting education in the future?"

Editing Example:

Student Input: "I've completed the first draft of my essay. Can you help me review it for clarity and coherence?"

ChatGPT Response: "Absolutely! Let's start by reviewing the introduction. Does the opening paragraph effectively introduce the topic and engage the reader?"

Student Input: "I'm concerned that the transition between paragraphs could be smoother."

ChatGPT Response: "Good observation! Let's work on improving the flow between paragraphs. Can you identify any key points that could serve as transition sentences?"

Faculty can build customized GPT-powered chatbots to focus on specific skills. SchoolAI allows quick development of custom chatbots through its Spaces tool, which track chats, allow students to engage in back and forth contributions with AI, and provide recommendations to educators for further instruction. 

SchoolAI Customized Chatbot Demonstration

More Examples

Specific writing skills can be targeted for AI-powered support instead of full essays or paragraphs. Tools like Grammarly, Hemingway Editor, or Language Tool can be used to input text and receive suggestions or change tone. Common areas of focus for higher education students could be grammar/punctuation, clarity, or argumentation. Students can request assistance through tools like ChatGPT as they would to an instructor or tutor.

              Argumentation and Analysis Skill-Building Example:

Student Input: "Can we practice developing arguments and analysis through small writing tasks?"

ChatGPT Response: "Certainly! Let's start with a short paragraph where you state your opinion on a current social issue. Then, provide one reason to support your opinion and analyze its implications."

Students may be unaware of the areas for improvement in their writing. Rather than beginning a prompt specifying support on specific skill, students can provide a writing sample along with a request for recommendations/skill building exercises.

Example:

Student Input: “I'm looking for guidance on improving my academic writing skills and addressing spelling and grammar issues in my work. Could you provide insights based on these two writing samples? Additionally, I'd appreciate a list outlining the skills that require improvement and suggestions for resources or activities to enhance them.”

ChatGPT Response: “Dear Student,

Thank you for reaching out for assistance with your academic writing. Let's delve into your writing samples and explore areas for improvement:

1. Grammar and Punctuation:

Work on maintaining subject-verb agreement consistently throughout your writing. For instance, ensure that phrases like "Timeout would be for all kids and just not some" are grammatically correct.

Pay attention to punctuation, including commas, periods, and quotation marks, to enhance readability and clarity.

1. Sentence Structure:

Aim for varied sentence structures to make your writing more engaging and dynamic. Avoid run-on sentences and sentence fragments for smoother flow and coherence.

    2. Spelling:

Enhance spelling accuracy by reviewing and correcting errors such as "mis-treat" instead of "miss treat." Consider utilizing spell-check tools to catch and correct spelling mistakes.

     3. Clarity and Coherence:

Focus on expressing ideas clearly and organizing them logically. Use transition words and phrases to connect your ideas seamlessly and guide the reader through your writing.

     4. Word Choice and Vocabulary:

Expand your vocabulary to improve expression and precision in your writing. Avoid repetitive phrases and clichés to keep your writing fresh and engaging.

     5. Formal Academic Language:

Develop a formal tone appropriate for academic writing by avoiding colloquialisms and slang. Strive for clarity and professionalism in your language use.

      6. Proofreading and Editing:

Take time to thoroughly proofread your work to catch errors in grammar, spelling, and punctuation. Practice editing your writing to revise and refine it effectively.

Now, let's explore some resources and activities to help you improve your writing skills:

Grammarly: An online tool for grammar checking and proofreading.

Writing Workshops: Participate in writing workshops or classes to practice and receive feedback.

Writing Centers: Utilize resources available at writing centers, where tutors can provide assistance with grammar, punctuation, and clarity.

Style Guides: Refer to style guides such as the MLA Handbook or APA Style Guide for academic writing conventions.

Reading: Read widely to expose yourself to different writing styles, vocabulary, and sentence structures.

Writing Prompts: Practice writing regularly using prompts to develop writing skills and creativity.

Peer Review: Exchange writing with peers for feedback and constructive criticism.

Grammar Exercises: Work on grammar exercises and quizzes to reinforce grammar rules and concepts.

Writing Groups: Join writing groups or communities to engage with others and share writing experiences and tips.

I hope you find these recommendations helpful in your journey to enhance your academic writing skills. Remember, practice and persistence are key to improvement. Feel free to reach out if you have any further questions or need additional support.”

Encourage or require students to share the resources/activities generated. This allows faculty to enhance these outcomes by linking each with specific GCU resources available in the Student Success Center. Library guides, the Writing Center, APA templates, and more can be shared with students based on the list generated from their GPT chat session. Additionally, this practice allows faculty to serve as a quality check for valid suggestions derived from GPT-generated results.

Utilize discussion forum CATs for students to reflect on their experiences writing with AI, including the benefits, challenges, and its impact on their writing process. Students can reflect on their experiences using AI throughout their assignment creation process, or they can engage with additional prompts related to AI shared within CATs to deepen the discussion, as shown in the examples below.

Future of Writing with AI CAT:

"Envision the future of writing in your field 20 years from now, with AI technologies fully integrated. Write a speculative piece or a scenario analysis using AI to generate ideas and data. Discuss how AI could transform writing practices, collaboration, and knowledge dissemination."

AI’s Role in Non-Academic Writing:

Ethical Considerations: Discussion on ethics, biases, and privacy concerns with mitigation strategies.

Plagiarism Prevention

• Emphasize the difference between using AI tools as aids for inspiration and copying content verbatim.
• Encourage students to critically evaluate and modify AI-generated content to ensure it aligns with their own ideas and writing style.
• Teach proper citation practices for incorporating AI-generated content into their writing, just as they would for any other external source.

Critically Evaluate AI-generated Content for Bias

Choose a set of AI-generated texts or examples that cover various topics and styles. Ensure that these examples have potential biases, varying tones, and cultural nuances that students can analyze.

Language: Assess the choice of words, phrasing, and vocabulary used in the text.

Tone: Identify the overall tone of the content (e.g., formal, informal, persuasive) and how it may influence the reader's perception.

Cultural Sensitivity: Consider how the content portrays different cultures, identities, and perspectives, and whether it demonstrates awareness and respect for diversity.

Provide students with guiding questions to structure their analysis, such as:

• What language choices are present in the text, and do they convey any biases or assumptions?
• How does the tone of the text affect the reader's interpretation? Does it align with the intended message?
• Are there any cultural references or stereotypes present in the content? How might these impact different audiences?

Encourage ongoing reflection and refinement of their analytical abilities in this area.

Key Takeaways & Resources: 

 Consider how the integration of AI tools can support student writing experiences within specific course objectives and assignments, providing practice and support for students while monitoring their progress and offering feedback. Emphasize ethical considerations, such as proper citation practices and critical evaluation of AI-generated content, as this is crucial. AI is a tool, not a replacement for human creativity. Evaluation of effectiveness and ongoing reflection are essential, as is staying updated on advancements in AI technology and fostering further exploration.

Additional Resources

DuBose, J., & Marshall, D. (2023). AI in academic writing: Tool or invader. Public Services Quarterly, 19(2), 125–130. https://doi-org.lopes.idm.oclc.org/10.1080/15228959.2023.2185338 

This article serves as a valuable resource by providing insights into the history, applications, and ethical considerations of AI in academic writing. It provides a detailed understanding of the opportunities and challenges associated with integrating AI into the writing process, guiding educators in fostering responsible use of AI technology among their students.

Roberts, S. (2023, December 12). Helpful Or Harmful? How AI Shaped Education In 2023. Science Friday. https://www.sciencefriday.com/articles/ai-education/ 

This article explores the integration of AI in education, addressing concerns such as equity, data privacy, and ethical AI use. It emphasizes the importance of establishing balanced policies to enable responsible AI usage among students. Despite challenges like potential cheating and privacy issues, AI offers personalized learning opportunities and innovative tools that can enhance education, requiring educators to develop a growth mindset and collaborate with students for effective implementation.

Clark, H. (2024, April 29). Helping Students Use AI Creatively Without the Temptation of Cheating. Edutopia. https://www.edutopia.org/article/guiding-students-creative-ai-use/ 

This article explores the role of AI, particularly customized chatbots like SchoolAI, in supporting student learning and writing development. It addresses concerns about AI as a potential cheating tool and suggests a middle ground where AI serves as a personalized support resource for students, helping them overcome writing challenges. By showcasing real classroom examples, the article highlights how customized chatbots can provide tailored assistance, foster student engagement, and promote autonomy in learning, ultimately leading to more productive educational experiences and bridging learning gaps.

ChatGPT - ChatGPT is an artificial intelligence language model designed to generate human-like text based on input prompts. Faculty can utilize ChatGPT to implement strategies throughout this module.

SchoolAI – Tailored for K-12 educators yet equally effective in higher education settings, this platform offers various AI tools, including custom chatbots. Quick setup (no coding required), comprehensive chat tracking, insightful feedback for faculty based on student conversations, and effortless sharing capabilities—no student login required.

Grammarly - Detects and corrects grammatical errors, spelling mistakes, and punctuation errors in real-time. Also provides suggestions for improving clarity, conciseness, and style, helping users communicate more effectively and professionally. Grammarly can empower students to improve their writing skills independently, fostering better academic performance and communication abilities. 

Hemingway Editor - Hemingway Editor is a writing tool that analyzes text for readability and clarity. It highlights complex sentences, passive voice, adverb overuse, and suggests simpler alternatives, helping writers craft clear and concise prose. 

Language Tool - Offers grammar, style, and spell-checking services for multiple languages. It detects errors in grammar, punctuation, style, and provides suggestions for improvement, making it a valuable resource for writers striving for accuracy and clarity in their written communication.

Developed by Jillian Hartman, Grand Canyon University

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