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Generative AI

Using Generative AI at Barnard

Things to keep in mind:

  • Be informed regarding the terms of service of the tool you're using. Material that you submit may become part of the program’s database—using the software also contributes to its development. The systems have different policies and methods to let you remove your material, so be sure to look for those instructions and to review the Terms of Service.
    • What rights does the tool owner have to your content (input or output)?
    • What is the privacy policy? Can anyone see what you've entered or generated?
  • Be mindful about the prompts you are feeding into your bot. AI tools raise issues of privacy and intellectual property. We advise caution with the following:
    • Your own intellectual property (i.e., work you have created and for which you want to protect the copyright), unless you want it to be used to train an LLM, or you are able to disable the settings so that it does not use your work for training.
    • Student work, as this may be a violation of their intellectual property.
    • Personal or protected information, such as PII (personally Identifiable Information) or FERPA-protected data (e.g., names, addresses, birthdates, phone numbers).
    • Copyrighted works of others may be a risk, as the law is unsettled and what constitutes fair use is not clear.
  • Even software platforms that don’t use your content to train the product may collect your information or install cookies to track your other activity. While you may choose to make this bargain to try out AI tools yourself, it can be more problematic to require students to sign up for tools that will track and use their private data.

AI Literacy Framework

Along with our colleagues at the CEP, we worked to create a framework for AI literacy, which was published in Educause Review. The framework is designed to help build a shared understanding of AI across Barnard. It provides a four-level structure for learning AI, explanations of key AI concepts and questions to consider when using AI.

a pyramid divided into four horizontal sections, each representing a different level of AI literacy. From bottom to top, the sections are labeled as follows: Understand AI (dark blue) Use & Apply AI (purple) Analyze & Evaluate AI (teal) Create AI (light blue) Each section is numbered from 1 to 4 with corresponding circular icons.

You can use the framework to: 

  • Determine your own level of AI literacy
  • Learn the basics of how AI works
  • Facilitate class discussions about AI
  • Decide how you want to engage with AI

Ongoing Events

Generative AI Interactive Studios: IMATS and the CEP are hosting weekly Generative AI Interactive Studios in the Media Center computer lab (Milstein 105). This will be an opportunity for staff and faculty to experiment with different generative AI tools in the presence of CEP and IMATS staff, who can provide guidance and answer questions. All levels of AI familiarity are welcome, including those who have no experience at all. We will explore such topics as prompt engineering and ethical questions, and we will use a variety of generative AI text and image tools, such as ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, and Adobe Firefly. No RSVP needed — just come by. Our remaining studios for the semester will be held on Fridays, December 6 and December 13, from 1 to 2pm in Milstein 105.

Generative AI Learning Community: In collaboration with the CEP and CSC, IMATS is running a Generative AI Learning Community during the 2024-25 academic year. Open to students. faculty, and staff, this is a monthly, hybrid space where we can come together to learn about and play with this new technology in a supportive, collaborative environment. Discussion topics and activities will be driven by the interests of the participants. To participate, fill out the interest form.

Resources for Faculty, Students & Staff

Note: Some of these resources are only available to those in the Barnard and/or Columbia communities.

Additional IMATS Initiatives

Since the release of ChatGPT in November 2022, generative AI has become a hot topic in the mainstream media and a subject of constant chatter in the higher education space. At IMATS, we've been driving forward the conversation about AI at Barnard.

  • Speaking Engagements:

    • Melanie Hibbert was an invited keynote speaker at Access 2024 at Concordia University in Montreal, Canada, where she presented: "Engaging the Past with Emerging Technologies: Case studies of AR, 3D Scanning, and Generative AI."

    • Elana Altman spoke at the EDUCAUSE Annual Conference in San Antonio, TX, as part of the panel "AI Ethics and Literacy: Insights and Resources from the EDUCAUSE-HP Community of Practice."

    • Melanie Hibbert, Elana Altman, and Tristan Shippen were invited to the Future Trends Forum to discuss Barnard's AI Literacy Framework. A recording of the even can be viewed below:

  • AI consultations: IMATS staff can consult with faculty and instructors who are interested in discussing teaching and learning in the age of generative AI. We understand there are many different approaches to AI in the classroom: We can help you understand the technology in relationship to your course goals, and discuss the approach that makes the most sense for you. If you are interested in engaging with AI in your course, we can share important considerations and consult on assignment design. To set up a consultation, please email courseworks@barnard.edu. 

  • AI-Assisted Critical Reading & Writing Tool: Developed by Marko Krklejas, this app provides exercises for students in a first-year writing course. It utilized adaptive AI to provide students with feedback and encourage them to improve their work.

  • Community of Practice Participation and Professional Development: We are ensuring that our staff stays up-to-date on generative AI developments. As such, Melanie Hibbert and Elana Altman were part of 2023-2024 Educause's AI Community of Practice, a monthly meeting of instructional technology leaders at colleges and universities throughout the country. 

  • Who’s Afraid of ChatGPT?: A Conversation with Students, Faculty and Staff about Generative AI in the Classroom: In March 2023, we teamed up with colleagues at the CEP and BLAIS to present this session at the annual Barnard Bold conference.