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AI and your Learning

Acknowledge the use of AI

Be thoughtful and transparent when using generative AI tools such as ChatGPT, Claude, or image generators. Acknowledging AI use means explaining how you used these tools, why you used them, and to what extent they shaped your final submission.

Even if you didn’t quote or cite content from AI tools directly, you are still responsible for disclosing their role in your academic process. This promotes academic honesty, supports fair evaluation, and encourages critical thinking about AI’s capabilities and limitations.

Why It Matters

Generative AI tools can serve as brainstorming partners, research assistants, writing aids, or conceptual tutors. If you use AI to help outline your ideas, summarize readings, generate code, or analyze data, that assistance must be acknowledged. Being transparent shows that you are engaging responsibly with new technologies while developing your own academic voice.

Course-Specific Guidelines

Always check with your instructor and refer to your course syllabus or assignment instructions. Some faculty or departments at Rider may have specific expectations for how AI usage should be reported or restricted.

What Should an AI Acknowledgment Include?

Include a short statement—typically after your reference list—that briefly summarizes the role of AI tools in your assignment. A good acknowledgment describes:

  • Which AI tools you used (e.g., ChatGPT, DALL·E, Grammarly, Bard) and why you selected them.

  • How you used them (e.g., idea generation, outlining, explaining complex ideas, drafting code, summarizing data).

  • Sample prompts or tasks, if relevant, along with any changes you made to the output.

This reflective approach helps you analyze the quality and appropriateness of the AI support and promotes deeper learning.

Example of a Basic Acknowledgment Statement

I used OpenAI's ChatGPT (https://chat.openai.com) during the early drafting phase of this paper to help brainstorm ideas and structure my outline. I also asked it to clarify several concepts related to [insert topic]. All content included in my final submission is written in my own words and critically evaluated. No AI-generated content has been presented as original work.

When a More Detailed Acknowledgment Is Required

If your instructor asks for a full explanation of how AI tools were used, you should include the following in an appendix or separate section:

  1. Tool Name and Purpose

  2. Prompts or Instructions Used

    • Example: Prompt to ChatGPT – “Explain how inflation impacts small business revenue.”

  3. AI Output

    • Include a summary or direct copy of the tool’s response, if requested.

  4. How You Modified the Output

    • Describe how you rewrote, fact-checked, or supplemented the information.

  5. Reference the AI Tool Appropriately
    Use the citation style recommended by your course. Here are examples: