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Attendance and Assessments

2. Assessments

2.4. AI Guidance

This page replicates the October 2024 'Use of AI Tools: Interim Student Guidance' document.

What are AI tools?

Artificial intelligence (AI) is increasingly used to enhance the capabilities of the software and digital platforms that we interact with every day. In recent years the biggest AI development has been in Large Language Models (LLMs), which are something like a huge predictive-text engine, able to synthesise data and text from multiple sources. LLMs lie behind chatbots such as Chat GPT, Microsoft CoPilot and others. AI has also been integrated into tools used by students such as Grammarly, Microsoft Office and Perlego.

What does AI have to do with study?

AI tools can be used to support many areas of study, such as research, planning and proof-reading. This might be using chatbots like ChatGPT, or an integrated tool such as Grammarly. We will be covering some of these uses in Study Skills and making guides available on the VLE. However, AI tools must be used wisely.

What are the dangers of using AI in study?

Although they can be useful, AI tools cannot be fully relied upon to produce accurate information. They often ‘hallucinate’, that is produce text that gets facts wrong. And in general they don’t provide references so that you can look up the source.

Another danger in using AI is that you might not fully exercise your own research, planning and writing skills, or engage fully with learning content. Instead of developing your own skills, knowledge and character during the course of your study, it may be tempting to rely too heavily on AI help or even cheat.

At LST, what am I allowed to use AI for?

Here are some examples of things you could use AI tools for in preparing assignments:

Do I need to say what I’ve used it for?

Use of AI must be declared on the front sheet or contents page of your assignment using the following template:

I used AI in the following ways in preparing this assignment (delete any which don’t apply):

No use; Research; Outline; Paraphrasing; Proofreading; Other  

Details of AI use: …

Failure to declare use of AI tools will be treated as academic misconduct, being considered failure to credit a source appropriately.

What am I not allowed to use AI for?

Using AI tools to generate the actual text of your essay (or any other part of an assignment beyond section headings) is like asking someone else to write your assignment for you – this is cheating and will be treated similarly, in accordance with the Academic Misconduct Policy.

Why is it important to write an assignment myself?

We all rely on help from various sources, whether digital or personal. Your teachers may guide you appropriately; Learning Support meetings are available to assist you as required, and Study Skills sessions will steer you in the right direction – all within clear parameters established by the School. Beyond these formal provisions, friends and family may support you, and AI tools may provide assistance up to a point. But remember that the purpose of study is to learn and develop your own knowledge, skills and character.

Wrestling with an assignment, learning how to shape an essay and figure out the right words, absorbing new information and explaining it to others, are all hugely important aspects of your learning and formation here at LST. Taking shortcuts to get a better grade through misuse of AI or any other form of academic misconduct affects your own growth and development above all—and as emphasised above, will be subject to the penalties set out in the Academic Misconduct Policy.

We think it’s important for students to approach their studies with integrity, engaging wholeheartedly in the learning process, and approaching this investment of time, energy and money as an act of worship. These Guidelines are intended to help you do that; they will be accompanied soon by a more formal AI Policy, which a special AI Working Group has been established to produce.