Overview

Open Educational Resources and Artificial Intelligence (AI) are both a part of the broader landscape of innovative strategies and initiatives that can support student success. Although the use of AI in higher education is not new, the launch of ChatGPT in late 2022 has led to innovative uses but also has raised concerns around such issues as bias, academic integrity, copyright, and the nature of truth. Regardless, these potentially transformative technologies likely are not going anywhere, and the need to adapt to innovation has never been more crucial. Fortunately, ethical and responsible use of AI can have a place in the higher education workplace, in research, and in instruction and learning. Increasingly, those working in open education are exploring harnessing AI to support the creation, adaptation, and adoption of OER. This unit explores some of these potential uses, while recognizing the ever-evolving nature of AI. 

By the end of this unit, students should be able to:

• Explain the basics of AI and generative AI, including their capabilities and limitations 

• Describe commonly used platforms and tools for AI 

• Summarize the evolving role of AI in higher education

• Identify ethical principles to address potential challenges in using AI

• Outline key principles and strategies for harnessing AI, specifically generative AI, to create or adapt OER, including in collaboration with students

• Describe emerging practices for licensing and attributing work created with generative AI