AI Technology

What is the policy on using AI technology in my TEL Education courses?

What is AI Content Creation? 


AI, or Artificial Intelligence, uses Machine Learning skills to generate written content.  Machine Learning has already been implemented in many tools students have access to on a daily basis.  Predictive-text writing in emails, text messages, and Word documents use artificial intelligence to help complete a sentence, suggest a word, or finish a thought. 


Similarly, AI-generated content uses a prompt or input and predictive technology to pull resources and information from across the internet in order to generate a desired style of writing for essays, emails, lists, captions, analyses, lab reports, blog posts, etc.


TEL Education Acceptable Use Chart

Acceptable Uses of AI Technology

Unacceptable Use of AI Technology

Request assistance to define a complex word or thought from the course readings. 

Asking the AI to generate an entire essay or paper on the topic without doing the necessary research or writing. 

Ask AI/GPT for a recommendation on related books or literary works to explore a topic further. 

Asking AI to generate part or a partial amount of a written assignment or presentation.  

Ask AI/GPT general knowledge questions meant to enhance your understanding of the course content.  

It is unacceptable to use AI/GPT to summarize the information in the course, then use the summary in your own mastery assignment.  

Ask AI/GPT technology to brainstorm essay topics related to your project.

It is unacceptable to ask AI/GPT technology to write, in part, or in whole, a part of your mastery assignment project.

Ask AI/GPT technology to help draft an email to the instructor or to the support team. 

It is unacceptable to use TEL Education emails for login credentials on any AI technology platform. 

Ask AI/GPT technology to summarize an online research website. 

It is unacceptable to copy and paste any selection of the AI/GPT writing in order to claim it as your own original and unique writing. 

Ask AI/GPT to create an outline of steps needed to take in order to complete a mastery assignment. 

It is unacceptable to use AI/GPT to request direct answers to essay prompts, mastery assignments (Slide presentations, written mastery assignments, etc.), multiple-choice questions, or discussion posts. 

Ask AI/GPT to create a list of reputable sources you may want to read, and include in your mastery assignment. 

AI/GPT cannot be cited as a reputable source on any TEL Education assignment.  


AI Technology Use Violation: 


TEL Education students are held to the highest standard of academic honesty and integrity. They are, therefore, expected to turn in authentic and original works for all courses and all coursework necessary for completing the course.  Student work samples are designed to demonstrate what a student knows, understands, and is able to explain in great detail using the information gleaned from the course material.  


Students who choose to turn in written work created, written, assisted, or generated by artificial intelligence are choosing to turn in work written by someone other than themselves and are, therefore, in violation of the Academic Integrity Policy at TEL Education.  Turning in assignments solely, or partially generated by AI technology is considered a plagiarism violation at TEL Education.  TEL Education defines plagiarism as “using all or part of written or spoken works created by someone other than the student without citing resources, giving credit to other content creators for their words or ideas or attempting to claim ideas, thoughts, and/or words as their own.”  The use of AI-created content is a plagiarism violation because the student is knowingly and willingly turning in an assignment created by someone other than themselves. 


The use of AI/GPT tools is not a substitute for critical thinking, analysis, and/or originality, which is expected in any assignment turned in for grading in a TEL Education course. 


As a result of this violation, students may receive the following: 

  • A grade reduction for the assignment or examination 

  • Earning a zero on the assignment or assessment 

  • Dismissal from the course 

  • Expelled from the TEL Education Course 

  • Expulsion from the TEL Education Course 

  • Any other disciplinary action deemed appropriate by TEL Education. 


Due to the nature of the TEL Education courses, all use of generative AI technology/chatbots while composing a written mastery assignment in a TEL Education course is strictly prohibited.  Any violation of this policy will result in disciplinary action, up to and including expulsion.  Only content originally generated, composed, and written by the individual completing the TEL Education course will be submitted for grading.  All other AI/GPT use is in violation of this acceptable use policy and will, therefore, be subject to the violation results listed above. 




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