Learning is changing as generative AI tools become more integrated across platforms we use to develop new applications, tools, and more. I want you to use these tools and believe that it will be essential to develop fluency with them to solve problems in the professional and creative spaces you enter once you leave DT. That said, there are some important guardrails for this course outlined below.
General Use
- Never, ever enter personally identifiable information into a generative AI tool. This includes items like: last name, email, address, phone number, etc.
- Always take a critical approach to the output of any genAI tool. These tools are not perfect or infallible and can produce incorrect, irrelevant, or biased results. You should always review the generated content to check for accuracy, contextual appropriateness, and bias. Use your best judgment and if you’re not sure, use another approach to verify the information.
You should NOT use genAI tools to…
- Build all or part of your project without trying first. This is about creating the best conditions possible for you to learn, rather than about cheating. Productive struggle is a critical part of the learning process. When you’re not sure how to get started, don’t go to AI immediately. Sit with it and try to think it out. Draw it out. Describe the problem to your fav stuffed animal. Go take a walk. An idea may come to you when you try these. If not, then head to AI to help you get started.
You should use a genAI tool to…
- Explain a concept, syntax, function, etc. that you don’t understand yet. For example, I still don’t understand X. Can you explain it to me step-by-step?
- Help you debug or troubleshoot a circuit or code you have already written AFTER you have tried to solve it on your own. Here is a prompt structure you can use to get started:
I am a student learning about [concept] with [no/some/lots of] experience in [programming language/topic]. My goal is to [describe the output you want to happen in as much detail as possible]. I have tried to [describe actions you have already taken], but I am still not sure how to [describe the challenges you are facing in detail]. Please review the [code/circuit] in [the uploaded file/text below]. Explain the errors and/or misconceptions I have about how it works based on the goal I stated above. Suggest three solutions that could help me fix the problem.
- Help you implement an idea for your project AFTER you have already tried on your own.
I am a student learning about [concept] with [no/some/lots of] experience in [programming language/topic]. I want to develop a [program/circuit/sensor] that [describe the output you want to happen in as much detail as possible]. I know that I need to do the following: [describe the steps you know here]. Describe what additional steps I need to take or suggest alternative directions.