At ISS, we are well aware of the opportunities and challenges that the use of artificial intelligence (AI) presents for both educators and students. ChatGPT is currently the most well-known tool, but there are several related tools and new ones will emerge.
Development in this field is happening rapidly, and we will all need to spend time developing good principles and practices for working with these new tools. In the long run, it could significantly change how we teach and conduct exams. Already for this semester, it will affect evaluations and grading within the current framework.
Is using AI tools cheating?
Although language models like ChatGPT are not explicitly mentioned in the examination guidelines, it is very clear that the answers should be the students' own work. Copying text from other sources, having others write the text for them, or using text generators is considered cheating and can result in expulsion and loss of the opportunity to take the exam.
Read about rules for source use here Use of sources and citations - University of Oslo (uio.no) and the cheating regulations here Cheating - University of Oslo (uio.no).
Generic texts versus academic independence
At ISS, we want to encourage independent thinking about course readings, and deeper understanding is highly valued. We generally want students to engage in independent discussions based on empirical evidence and course material. This has a positive impact on our exams.
Our recommendation to students is to avoid using AI in their work, whether it be home exams or longer assignments such as bachelor's and master's theses. Experience shows that this type of tool can produce texts that are linguistically good and with correct content, but they often appear very generic and lack depth.
Guidance for examiners
In this spring's exams, examiners will be instructed to pay special attention to generic texts/content. Answers that clearly express the individual's voice and use of knowledge will be highly valued. Use examples! Define your own understanding of the task! Do more than simply repeat viewpoints from the literature, show how you think about them and what you can use them for.
We want our students to dare to ask critical questions. Dare to take the reader with you in your own train of thought and allow yourself to express your own wonders and evaluations.
The following supplement will be part of examiner guidelines for all ISS courses spring 2023.
In a time where a quick summary of a course text is just a click away, independent thinking and human creativity will be more important than ever. AI does not mean that learning becomes easier or less important. More than ever, genuine wisdom is needed.
Finally, our course coordinators are ready to answer any questions you may have about this. Pay close attention to exam preparation, especially if you have a home exam or an assignment this semester.