You are here More Pages
Students

Using Generative Artificial Intelligence (Gen AI) in Assessments

Generative Artificial Intelligence (gen AI) (such as Copilot or ChatGPT) is reshaping the University experience worldwide. Gen AI is integrated into everyday software, tools, and content creation, and is changing how we live, create, and learn.  UOW is committed to embracing gen AI as it evolves to enhance student learning experiences and develop vital work-readiness skills. We are here to guide you on how to use gen AI ethically and responsibly in your academic studies.

Engaging with gen AI in your learning 

Gen AI is now a part of our everyday life, influencing how we study, work and communicate. At UOW, we want you to feel confident using gen AI tools in effective, ethical and secure ways that help you succeed in a constantly changing world.

As a UOW student, you have access to Microsoft Copilot, which is supported by enterprise data protection and available at no cost through your UOW account.

Gen AI can be a powerful tool to support your learning, but you must engage with it responsibly, ethically and critically, ensuring you follow the relevant policies, including the Academic Integrity Policy and  Acceptable Use of IT Resources Policy.  A substantial amount of guidance is currently available to students in a range of places such as the AskUOW Knowledge Base, the Library's Digital Skills Hub and the Generative AI in HDR (Higher Degree Research) webpage. You can learn more about how to use gen AI in your learning via UOW’s free short courses such as AI for Learning and Future Careers.

When using gen AI, it is important to keep the following in mind:

  • Gen AI should complement, not replace, your critical thinking and decision-making skills. Submitting content generated by AI as your own work is considered as dishonest or unfair behaviour and may be considered a breach of academic integrity.
  • Ensure that you acknowledge the use of gen AI, as appropriate for the context. 
  • Make sure you use UOW-approved tools such as Microsoft Copilot that is secured by enterprise data protection. Be cautious when using other gen AI tools. Many collect and store information in ways that breach privacy and data protection provisions.
  • Fact verification against reliable sources is essential as gen AI outputs can be inaccurate, fabricated or biased.
  • Uploading personal, sensitive or confidential information to gen AI (e.g. personal identification, images, medical information) may compromise privacy and/or cause unintended or harmful outcomes.
  • Uploading certain learning resources may infringe copyright laws. Examples of this include lecture slides, Subject Outlines, textbooks and learning materials.
  • While gen AI can create new content, it may still include material that is protected by copyright. This means you need to be careful what it generates, as it could belong to someone else, and using it without permission might infringe copyright rules.
  • The quality of gen AI outputs is influenced by the quality of prompting (e.g. poorly constructed or unclear prompts may generate outputs that are incorrect). 

Gen AI in assessments

Throughout your studies at UOW, and within your specific discipline, it is imperative to build strong digital literacy and critical thinking skills, that includes learning how to use gen AI tools responsibly. Your subject coordinator will provide specific guidance on the use of gen AI in your assessment tasks via your Subject Outline and/or your subject Moodle site. You are responsible for the work that you submit, and it must reflect your own original thinking. If you have used gen AI tools, this must be acknowledged clearly. Equally important is knowing when gen AI use is not appropriate, especially if it risks breaching academic integrity. Always think carefully about when and how to use gen AI. If it is not suitable for the task, do not use it.

An example of a way in which a UOW student engaged responsibly with gen AI in an assessment can be found on the: Student Spotlight: Navigating the use of gen AI in a Case Study assessment page.

Before using gen AI for an assessment task, make sure you check your Subject Outline and/or subject Moodle site to see to what extent gen AI may be used  and associated instructions regarding acknowledgement. 

Being transparent about your use of gen AI helps maintain academic integrity and supports your learning. This acknowledgement could be a short statement identifying the tools used, a description of specific prompts, screenshots and reflections. 

Guidance for how to acknowledge and reference gen AI use for assessment tasks can be found in the UOW Referencing and Citing Guide.

Misuse of gen AI in assessments includes using gen AI where it is prohibited or using it beyond the scope set out in the assessment instructions. Misuse of gen AI in assessments constitutes academic misconduct (as specified by University Policy) and may result in an academic misconduct investigation with a range of possible consequences.

It is important to:

  • Check to what extent gen AI is permitted for each assessment task and how it is to be used and acknowledged.
  • Keep note of your interactions with gen AI tools, where applicable, and drafts of your work because your Subject Coordinator may ask you to demonstrate how you developed an assessment item.
  • Refer to your Subject Outline and/or your subject Moodle site if you are unsure of assessment instructions.

If your assessment is reported for Academic Misconduct, your Subject Coordinator or the Exams Office (depending on the type of assessment) will:

  1. Gather and review evidence to determine if there is a case of academic misconduct.
  2. Notify you via email of the allegation and provide an opportunity for you to respond; you may be asked to explain how you developed an assessment item so it’s a good idea to keep note of your interactions with gen AI technology, where applicable, and drafts of your work.
  3. Consider your response and make a determination based on the strength of the evidence available and the balance of probabilities.

AskUOW provides more guidance on What happens if I've been reported for academic misconduct?

Students can access advice and support for academic misconduct matters through the Student Advocacy Service.

Permitted use of gen AI in assessments

In some assessments, the use of any gen AI technology may be prohibited.

It is important to: 

  • keep drafts of your work as you may be asked to demonstrate how you developed an assessment item. 
  • ask your Subject Coordinator if you are unsure of assessment instructions. 

The content for your final submission must be your original work. Use of gen AI technology may result in an academic misconduct investigation.

In some assessments, the use of gen AI technology may be permitted with acknowledgment to assist in the development of an assessment item. Permitted use may include brainstorming, planning, structuring, editing, proofreading and getting feedback on an assessment item.

It is important to: 

  • use only the permitted gen AI technology and follow instructions on how it can be used. 
  • acknowledge the use of gen AI appropriately. 
  • keep note of your interactions with gen AI technology and drafts of your work because your Subject Coordinator may ask you to demonstrate how you developed an assessment item. 
  • ask your Subject Coordinator if you are unsure of assessment instructions.  

The content for your final submission must be your original work.  Misuse of gen AI technology may result in an academic misconduct investigation.

In some assessments, the use gen AI technology may be expected with acknowledgement. Expected use may include developing and critically evaluating gen AI outputs. The content for your final submission must be your original work. 

It is important to: 

  • only use the permitted gen AI technology and follow instructions on how it can be used. 
  • acknowledge and reference the use of gen AI appropriately. 
  • keep note of your interactions with gen AI technology and drafts of your work as your Subject Coordinator may ask you to demonstrate how you developed an assessment item. 
  • ask your Subject Coordinator if you are unsure of assessment instructions. 

The content for your final submission must be your original work. Misuse of gen AI technology may result in an academic misconduct investigation.

Feedback

Are you a UOW student and would like to provide some feedback on this page?

Submit feedback
Book a consultation with Learning Skills Advisors

Ask the Library

Find out more about Access Plans