New guidelines for the use of generative AI in education
ETH encourages students and lecturers to engage with GenAI and appeals for responsibility, transparency and fairness.
A survey conducted last semester on the use of generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) showed that lecturers have unanswered questions about its use and would like better support.
ETH Zurich has therefore formulated guidelines for the use of GenAI in education. ETH encourages students and lecturers to familiarise themselves with the functions of GenAI, its possibilities and the available tools and to actively engage with it.
Responsibility, transparency and fairness
In order to maintain academic integrity, ETH appeals to the principles of responsibility, transparency and fairness. This means that lecturers and students should take responsibility for the content they teach or submit. They should declare when and where generative AI has been used and not pass on any information protected by copyright, private or confidential information to commercial GenAI tools.
Legal aspects of the use of GenAI are covered by the existing rules for performance assessments and a new declaration of originality. Violations such as use of unauthorised aids or non-disclosure of their use will continue to be subject to disciplinary action.
New workshop for lecturers
Microsoft Copilot, for example, offers an uncomplicated introduction to GenAI; the service is part of the standard Microsoft licence and can be used with the normal ETH account. ETH users are then in a protected area, so the inputs are not used to train the model.
The Unit for Teaching and Learning (UTL) will be offering workshops on GenAI in Teaching and Learning from autumn semester 2024. These courses will support participants in actively integrating GenAI into the teaching and learning process.
The ETH Library also offers a wide range of courses, including the course "Improving scientific writing with AI tools" on planning texts with AI tools, optimising the writing process and preventing plagiarism.
Lecturers with questions about generative artificial intelligence in education and learning can contact .
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