Generative AI: Graduate + Research Supervision

Generative AI and Large Language Modules (LLM) are changing the way researchers and students navigate the academic landscape. Early adopters are finding many useful ways to employ these new tools like CHAT GPT, while others may appreciate or endure the editing suggestions of tools like Grammarly. To stay current as mentors, supervisors of graduate students require ongoing professional development.

To support supervisors of graduate students and foster a community of faculty members and staff committed to high-quality supervision and mentorship, GPS has created and curated relevant resources to be explored.

Familiarize Yourself With The University Of Alberta + National Guidelines

In response to the rapid adoption of generative AI tools, the University of Alberta and other Canadian universities came together to develop principles to help administrators (including coordinators, associate chairs, and deans) and faculty members provide supervisory guidance to their graduate students and postdoctoral fellows.

The Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies Guidelines: Responsible and Ethical Use of Generative AI in Graduate Thesis, Research, and Writing

This document helps both students and supervisors by answering questions such as

• Can I use generative AI tools for writing and editing my candidacy proposals, qualifying exams, comprehensive exams, thesis, and scholarly publications?
• Can I use generative AI tools for my research, including literature review, data analysis, or simulation?
• How do I formally acknowledge if I use any generative AI tools in my research and writing?
• Is the output of generative AI applications reliable, accurate, and trustworthy?

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Western Canadian Deans of Graduate Studies - Generative AI and Graduate + Postdoctoral Research and Supervision

The report discusses the possibilities and challenges of the use of generative AI in graduate thesis, postdoctoral research and writing including applications for admission and scholarships. It provides a set of recommended practices on responsible and ethical uses of generative AI for associate deans and deans of graduate studies as well as for advising and supervising graduate students and postdoctoral fellows.

Workshops and Training

Using Generative AI in Research -  Wednesday, 13 November 24

The Faculty of Graduate & Postdoctoral Studies together with University Libraries hosted a session for supervisors to explore how AI can be used in all parts of the research cycle.  A key message was to learn with colleagues and students how to best leverage these tools.  ChatGPT was used to generate a summary of the presentation as well the session was recorded.

Graduate Supervision and Generative AI - Thursday, 22 June 2023

The FGPS together with the Office of the Provost invited graduate supervisors to have a facilitated conversation about the impacts of generative AI on graduate education. 

Four key topics were captured:

• AI Literacy Development - For Faculty and Graduate Students;
• AI Educational Development - For Faculty and Graduate Students;
• Ethics, Equity, and Bias; and
• Re-Imagining Graduate-Level Assessments.
  
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Campus Resources

• Teaching in the Context of AI
  This toolkit by the Centre for Teaching and Learning gives instructors guidance on addressing AI in your teaching.
• U of A Libraries - Using Generative AI
  This site provides links to general applications of AI, how to use tools, ethics and evaluation.
• Recording from the Oct 2023 Chat GPT 101

Want a general idea of how Large Language Modules works?

Check out this short interactive article.

The generative AI market is ever evolving and it can be difficult to keep up. Here's one article that can give you a sense of the top competitors.

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