Artificial Intelligence for Students

Edinburgh College's Learning Technology Team have developed this area to support learners in navigating AI tools in your time at the college. Here, you'll find information on AI terminology and guidance on its appropriate and inappropriate use in your coursework.

As AI becomes increasingly integrated into our daily lives, Edinburgh College is aware of the impact this could have on the student experience. Whilst there are many applications of AI which could be beneficial to your studies, it is also crucial that you are aware of the drawbacks and limitations of this emerging and constantly developing technology, and that you are mindful of the biases, ethical and data considerations inherent in its use.

The resources found below are designed to support you in learning how to engage with this technology in an effective and transparent manner.

It is essential that you learn to evaluate AI responses and assess their accuracy and suitability for your studies. Using AI resources without doing so could result in incorrect information and be detrimental to your learning experience.

Edinburgh College provides detailed guidelines on what is deemed acceptable usage of AI in relation to academic referencing and coursework research in the Using AI at Edinburgh College resource, linked below.

If after reading the resources available here, you are at all unsure about whether you can or should use AI in relation to your coursework, please seek clarification from your course lecturers.

Introduction to AI

A Short Course

What is AI? Click the button to take a short course designed to help you understand the basics of this influential technology, including:

  • Different types of AI;
  • How generative AI (like ChatGPT) works;
  • Key terminology.

Estimated course completion time: 30 minutes.


Introduction to AI

Using AI in Your Studies

A Short Course

What do you need to know about AI as a student at Edinburgh College? Click the button to access a short course which is designed to help explain the ways in which you should and shouldn't engage with gen-AI in relation to your studies, which includes:

  • The Dos and Don'ts of using AI at Edinburgh College;
  • Referencing with AI;
  • How to use AI effectively;
  • Key issues and drawbacks using AI;
  • Edinburgh College's AI policy.

Estimated course completion time: 1 hour.


Using AI at EC

Turnitin's AI Detection Tool

Key things to know about Turnitin's AI detector tool:

  • This tool is switched on by default so every assignment submitted with Turnitin will generate an AI similarity report.
  • Staff understand that Turnitin's AI detector tool is not error-free.
  • Turnitin's AI detection tool is not the starting point for investigating suspected AI misuse.
  • Staff will only consider AI detection scores in scenarios where they already have concerns that a student has misused AI.

College AI Policy

Generally, Edinburgh College supports use of AI that:

  • Always respects academic integrity;
  • Is safe, ethical, and responsible.

AI can be used as a study companion but never as your replacement.

To understand how to use AI safely, ethically, and responsibly, please take the short course on Using AI In Your Studies, listed above, or contact the Learning Technology team at learningtech@edinburghcollege.ac.uk.

It is important to know what the accreditor for your course understands as acceptable and unacceptable uses of AI.

Rules can vary per accreditor.

For example, SQA's rules for AI use may differ to City & Guilds. Always check with your lecturer if you are unsure of what constitutes acceptable AI use for your course.

Additional Information

I learn best watching video, do you have anything for me?

We do! The video linked below covers the most pertinent information in relation to using AI tools at Edinburgh College in your learning.

Student AI Usage

What is the process we go though if I'm suspected of AI misuse?

The flowchart linked below outlines Edinburgh College's process for investigating suspected AI misuse.

Suspected Of AI Misuse Process Diagram

Knowledge Base

Search and browse through our detailed guides and helpful articles, tailored specifically for EC students. From troubleshooting technical issues to mastering the tools you'll use in class, we've got you covered to ensure a smooth learning experience.

You can contact the Learning Technologists at the email below:

learningtech@edinburghcollege.ac.uk

You can contact the IT Helpdesk at the email below:

itrequest@edinburghcollege.ac.uk