As you prepare for the start of the Fall term, you might be considering how generative AI (gen AI) fits into your teaching and course design. To help you make informed decisions, here are five things you should know about using gen AI at McGill, including opportunities to connect with Teaching and Academic Programs (TAP) for guidance and support about whether, when, and how to use AI in your teaching, and in communicating clear expectations to your students.
1. Using gen AI in your teaching is a choice
You can use gen AI in your courses and can decide how—or whether—students may use it for course activities and assessments.
Consider where gen AI could support your learning outcomes and where its use may not be appropriate.
How can generative AI be used in teaching and learning? →
2. Copilot is McGill’s approved gen AI tool
Microsoft Copilot is available to the McGill community and provides additional protections for institutional data. When you use Copilot with your McGill account, your prompts and responses are not used to train the underlying large language models.
Learn more about using Copilot at McGill →
3. An AI statement builds trust and makes expectations clear
Talk with your students about gen AI at the beginning of the course. Be clear about what uses are permitted, and why, and invite students into a conversation about how gen AI fits with the goals of the course. These discussions can help build trust, clarify expectations, and help students understand the kinds of thinking and learning they are expected to demonstrate.
Including an AI statement in your course outline can help establish clear expectations from the beginning. Your statement might allow gen AI use, restrict it for particular activities, or ask students to disclose how they have used it.
See sample course outline statements →
4. Gen AI detection tools are not supported at McGill
McGill does not support the use of gen AI detection tools to determine whether student work was generated using AI. These tools can produce unreliable results and should not be relied upon as evidence of unauthorized use.
Instead, focus on clear expectations, thoughtful assessment design, and conversations with students when concerns arise.
Learn more about avoiding AI detection tools →
5. You don’t have to figure it out alone
Have a question about gen AI and teaching, or not sure where to start? Book an AI Conversation. AI Conversations are informal 15- or 30-minute chats to help you explore ideas, ask questions, and identify next steps. They’re a great starting point when you need quick guidance.
For more in-depth support, consultations are also available to work through your needs in greater detail.
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