Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI)
/At NMI we acknowledge generative artificial intelligence (AI) is here to stay and is rapidly evolving. Many complex issues are raised with AI, including questions of academic integrity, ethical uses in academia, equity and access in education, privacy and security, and so many more topics! Many institutions of higher learning are needing to quickly learn how to integrate appropriate use of AI in curriculum and policy.
Concerns about not truly integrating the information, plagiarism and bypassing learning objectives were some of our first concerns. We enter into tricky territory of questioning students' academic integrity when we encounter work that is suspected of being generated by AI. Many AI checkers are not 100% reliable. This is prompting us to reevaluate how we teach and instill the values of discernment, critical and higher order thinking. We are looking closely at how we make authentic assessments to assure students are learning and deeply integrating the learning competencies outlined in the program. Our mission is for students to become knowledgeable, proficient, and critically thinking entry-level midwives!
When used appropriately, AI tools can provide scaffolding to student's learning. You may already have used AI to help you learn. AI tools have helped people organize their thoughts, aid in learning and understanding new topics, and more. It can be argued that AI is making information more accessible (to those who know how to use it). Most of us are encountering AI on a daily basis in some form or another. You may have noticed webinars being offered on how to integrate AI into midwifery practice. Many digital platforms that we use daily are utilizing AI. However, there are still many flaws with AI, and it is limited in its accuracy, especially when it comes to midwifery.
Take for example the images created by AI with the prompt, “waterbirth” and “homebirth.”
Similar to these images, the written content that AI generates can totally miss the mark. Students using AI as a study aid will need to fact check everything AI produces, including the sources AI provides. AI is known to generate sources that are fabricated or that have nothing to do with the information it produces. While it can be used as a tool for study, clarifying basic concepts, organizing thoughts, AI is not a reliable source for midwifery learning and knowledge. Research, discernment, and critical thinking are required to become and continue to be a midwife.
As we update NMI’s curriculum and transition to distance learning, we hope to weave in ethical uses of AI, teach the basics of AI fluency, and of course, continue to teach research literacy, higher order and critical thinking. As usual, all module work is to be submitted in your original work, in your own words, referencing and citing the required and recommended learning resources. NMI’s Academic Integrity Policy already has in place definitions for academic integrity and academic dishonesty. In alignment with this policy, it is prohibited to use AI written content for module work, as this is considered plagiarism and cheating. If you access AI to complete modules work, you must reference AI as you would any other source. All students must cite sources referenced and cited. Recently, examples of AI usage have been added to clarify how AI applies to this policy. Please familiarize yourself with these examples, while they are a few examples, they are not exhaustive of all examples of appropriate or inappropriate uses of AI. The director team is collaborating on addressing the deeper complexities AI brings to the NMI community. This consideration will be ongoing. More to come!
