Faculty and Staff Repository

As AI tools become more prevalent in education, designing assignments that meaningfully incorporate these tools while maintaining academic rigor is crucial. This guide explores strategies for creating assignments that don't just accommodate AI use, but actually leverage it to enhance learning outcomes.

1. Focus on Higher-Order Thinking

Design assignments that go beyond what AI can easily produce. Emphasize analysis, evaluation, and creation rather than simple recall or summary.

Instead of: "Write a summary of the Civil War's major battles" Try: "Analyze how geography influenced three major Civil War battles, using AI to gather initial facts but providing your own analytical framework"

2. Incorporate Process Documentation

Make the student's thinking process visible by requiring documentation of how they used AI tools.

Assignment Component: "Include your AI prompts, the responses received, and a reflection on how you refined and incorporated the AI-generated content into your final work"

3. Emphasize Personal Connection

Include elements that require students to connect content to their own experiences or perspectives.

Example: "After using AI to research cultural perspectives on climate change, compare these viewpoints with your local community's approach to environmental issues"

1. Pre-Assignment Planning

Define clear learning objectives that can't be achieved by AI alone
Identify specific ways AI tools can support (not replace) learning
Consider potential challenges and prepare support resources

2. Assignment Structure

Create multi-stage assignments with clear checkpoints
Include both AI-assisted and independent work components
Build in reflection and metacognition elements

3. Assessment Design

Develop rubrics that evaluate both AI use and original thinking
Include peer review components that examine AI integration
Consider portfolio-style assessment for process documentation

Writing and Literature

Assignment: "Use AI to generate multiple interpretations of a key passage from 'The Great Gatsby'. Then, develop your own unique interpretation, explaining how it differs from or builds upon the AI-generated analyses."

Science

Assignment: "Use AI to help design an experimental protocol. Document how you modified the AI's suggestions based on available lab resources and safety considerations."

Business

Assignment: "Use AI to analyze a company's public financial statements, then develop your own investment recommendation based on factors the AI might have overlooked."

Clear AI Usage Policies

Specify which AI tools are permitted and for what purposes
Establish guidelines for citing AI assistance
Define boundaries between acceptable and unacceptable AI use

Supporting Student Success

Provide examples of effective AI prompts for the assignment
Demonstrate strategies for evaluating and refining AI outputs
Create opportunities for students to share effective practices

Over-reliance on AI: Ensure assignments require substantial original thinking
Unclear Expectations: Be specific about how AI should and shouldn't be used
Insufficient Guidance: Provide examples and scaffolding for AI tool use
Limited Assessment Scope: Evaluate both process and product

Successful AI-enhanced assignments should:

Focus on learning outcomes that go beyond what AI can provide
Make student thinking and process visible
Include clear guidelines for AI use and documentation
Promote critical thinking and personal engagement
Provide appropriate scaffolding and support

Faculty and Staff AI Resource Repository

Designing AI-Enhanced Assignments