The Ohio State University ASC Office of Distance Education

AI Tools for Teaching and Learning

AI Tools for Teaching and Learning

Recent technical and commercial developments have made a range of artificial intelligence (AI) tools available for public use. Potential student uses have included assisting composition, tutoring, and facilitating research. There is also concern that these tools will be used for inappropriate purposes, such as plagiarism.

Avoid Non-OSU Approved AI Tools: As stated in the OTDI resource linked above, "Ohio State educators are advised to avoid using third-party technologies that have not been vetted and approved by the university because they have not undergone a review for security, privacy, or accessibility."

Examples of AI tools:

 

Chat Bots

AI chatbots utilize Machine Learning technology to simulate human conversations, responding to questions and comments that are input by the user in a human-like way. They use natural language processing (NLP) to understand user input, generate relevant responses, and learn from interactions to improve over time. The outputs produced by the chatbots not only include evaluative responses, but can also consist of entirely new content presented in the form of text, images, or even audio. These chatbots are often referred to as Generative AI or GenAI.

Productivity Assistants 

AI productivity assistants are tools powered by artificial intelligence that help streamline tasks like scheduling, summarizing meetings or documents, data analysis, organization, and communication. These tools can support instructors by automating routine tasks and enhancing efficiency in course planning and student engagement.

Image Generators

With AI image generators, users can create images based on text prompts. They can produce artwork, illustrations, diagrams, and realistic visuals in various styles, often used for design, education, marketing, and creative projects.