Assessment Design
You can adapt existing assessments or take the opportunity to redesign assessments to enhance their authenticity and ensure students develop the knowledge, skills and attributes that will help them succeed in their studies and future careers in an AI enabled world.
There are many sector-wide resources to inspire and support staff with designing their assessment in an AI-enabled world. One of the most comprehensive is Jisc’s "Assessment Ideas for an AI Enabled World".
Some important considerations when designing your assessments:
- GenAI tools now access web content
- Plugins are available to provide correct references e.g. Scholar AI
- Plugins to “humanise” AI-generated text
- Advances in analysis and presentation of data
- Course content can be uploaded to sites, which can then be used to answer questions
Some practical steps you can take when designing your assessments:
- Phrase your assessment “In your own words….”
- Assess the process, not the product
- Make the most of group work
- Use scenario-based assessments
- Ask students to analyse, evaluate or synthesise information
Further guidance available: Guidance for Staff on the Use of GenAI Tools in Education
How to Talk to Students about GenAI and Assessments?
Course Coordinators must provide clear guidance to students on what is permitted in relation to the use of GenAI tools for the preparation of work that will be submitted for assessment. There is text on permitted levels of GenAI tool use for assessments embedded in course templates in MyAberdeen, and staff should state in assessment briefs which level of GenAI use is permitted.
For those not using MyAberdeen, staff can use or modify the text on permitted levels of GenAI tools use for assessments.
Consider directing students to Guidance on Assignment Notes, Drafts and Document Versioning.
What to Do if I Suspect Academic Misconduct?
If you suspect a student has used GenAI tools to gain an unfair advantage in an assessment, consider using this Matrix to Evaluate Potential GenAI Misuse in Assessments.
The University regulations and procedures for cases of Academic Misconduct states that for unauthorised or unacknowledged GenAI tool use, these are dealt with under “Plagiarism” (Section 3.2 of the Code of Practice on Student Discipline (Academic) for 2023/24)
At a meeting of the School investigation panel, they may ask the student to:
- Provide evidence of the creation process
This evidence can include earlier drafts, notes or documentation that illustrates the development of ideas and writing. Guidance for students on creating assignment notes, drafts and document versioning is available.
- Describe how they approached their assessment and demonstrate their understanding
Students should be prepared to discuss their work to determine if their level of knowledge aligns with that demonstrated in the submitted assignment, and to enable them to explain their thought processes in creating their assignment.