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Using AI for coursework

Using AI for coursework

Owned by ellen bell
Last updated: Feb 26, 2025
6 min read

What is AI?

AI (Artificial Intelligence) refers to the development of computer programs that are trained on data to perform complex tasks automatically.

Generative AI (Gen. AI) is a subset of AI that refers to programs that generate content automatically when prompted. Large Language Models (LLMs) such as ChatGPT are examples of AI programs that have been trained to perform text-based tasks such interpretation, translation, and composition. Image generation tools such as Stable Diffusion and Imagine.Art are trained to refine, edit, style or generate new images and video.

Ellen_Bell_A_student_at_ulster_university_using_AI_for_an_ass_e2e578a0-d5b2-475e-9101-d81b2f058bdd.jpg
Image generated using Imagine.Art from the prompt a student at Ulster University using AI for an assignment (Imagine AI, 2024a)

How does it work?

AI uses neural networks to ‘learn’ and 'recognise' patterns in labelled data. Then the technology is trained to identify and respond to similar patterns in new data. Generative AI also has the capability to create new content e.g. text, images or video.

Where do I find it?

In online tools such as Chat-GPT, Otter, Google, Claude, Stable Diffusion, Midjourney, Dall-E, Krea, Imagine.art, Deepseek, Grammarly, in common software such as MS Word (co-pilot), MS Teams (transcription), Adobe Photoshop and Canva.

Can I use it?

Using AI has some great benefits but it also has a number of disadvantages. At Ulster University you can use AI if you use it critically, reasonably, sustainably, reasonably, transparently and securely.

imagine_image_f931d30c-46b4-4f4a-b6d5-d1e01783092e.jpg
Image generated using Imagine.Art from the prompt a student at Ulster University using AI for an assignment (Imagine AI, 2024a)

Using it critically

AI tools have the potential for bias and mistakes (note the extra finger in the AI generated image above). This is because humans make mistakes and they can be biassed (hold stereotypical views about groups of people such as those of other nationalities, race, religion or gender). As AI consists of code written by humans, trained on data created by humans and learns from its interaction with humans, there is plenty of room for error.

Gen. AI can also suffer from hallucinations, it doesn’t understand words or images, it just spots a pattern and tries replicating it, for instance the prompt ‘a woman playing a violin in the orchestra’ looks like this:

Ellen_Bell_woman_playing_the_violin_in_orchestra_0ecf872b-1425-4e4d-ac8f-d6cf39c5a6f1.jpg
Image generated using Imagine.Art from the prompt a woman playing a violin in the orchestra (Imagine AI, 2024b).

 

Always critically assess any content or analysis generated by AI, think of it as a source, and like any source you need to ask questions of it:

  • Is it accurate? Compare its findings against other scholarly or reputable sources e.g. search the UU library’s e-resource for comparable sources). Check any sources it cites, they may be made up.

  • Is it representative? Many of the LLMs are trained on a limited number of data sets including Wikipedia (Minaee et al, 2024). This data may not be representative or appropriate for all cultures or nationalities.

  • Is it biassed? According to the US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission there is a lack of gender, racial and ethnic diversity in the high tech industries Silicon Valley (USEEOC, 2024) home of Open AI, the company that created Chat-GPT and Dall-E.

 

Using it responsibly

When you are using AI, think about how the program was trained – by hundreds of pieces of annotated data. The majority of this manual labour–the repetitive, tedious labelling of images, video and text – is hidden, performed in developing countries by low-paid workers (Muldoon et al, 2024). However, there are also social impact companies, like Isahit, that aim to empower their data labelling employees (Kaye, 2019; Milne, 2024).

 

Using it sustainably

According to the United Nations Environment Programme, AI has a large environmental impact. The data centres that facilitate AI require the mining of minerals and metals, are large consumers of electricity and water and produce damaging electronic waste (UNEP, 2024).

  • Use it considerately

 

Using it reasonably and transparently

Check your Module Handbook for guidance, if there is no specific guidance then the following rule of thumb can be applied:

  • Avoid using Gen. AI to create content for assessed coursework and research.  

  • Do not use AI as a substitute for your own learning, critical thinking or problem-solving skills

Reasonable uses include:

  • Planning the structure of written work e.g. creating an essay plan (ChatGPT)

  • Initial ideas or inspiration for a project e.g. sourcing images for a mood-board (Imagine.Art)

  • Helping to improve writing skills e.g. suggestions for improvement in grammar or spelling (Grammarly)

  • Asking for a simplified explanation of complex text (Google Gemini)

 

Familiarise yourself with the university’s Academic Misconduct Policy

Ulster University’s Academic Misconduct Policy includes a warning against plagiarism which includes:

“Covert use of AI generative tools – where AI generative tools are deployed for assessment purposes without authorisation and/or appropriate acknowledgement.”

 

Therefore if you are using Gen. AI you need to cite it as a source.

  • Use in-text references:

When prompted on library information skills, Chat GPT responded "Library information skills encompass a range of abilities" (OpenAI, 2023).

  • Cite in your reference list:

OpenAI. (2023) ChatGPT. [Computer program]. Available at: https://chat.openai.com [Accessed 6 June 2023]. 

See the library’s guides for Harvard style referencing of AI Gen. tools for LHS faculty and for CEBE, AHSS and UUBS faculties.

 

Use it securely

Do not input your personal details, copyrighted, sensitive or confidential data into online AI tools such as ChatGPT. If it’s a public platform, the information you input can be shared publicly.

  • Never input your own personal information.

  • Never use cloud-based AI to process personal research data e.g. online transcription tools to transcribe interviews.

  • Instead use your Ulster University MS Teams account to transcribe interviews.

 

 

Useful Links

References

 

Related content

Centre for Digital Learning Enhancement
ulster.ac.uk/learningengancement/cdle