Tag: Monitor

  • Using MindTap for English to Help Monitor Students’ Use of AI

    Using MindTap for English to Help Monitor Students’ Use of AI

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    Depending on the era in which we began learning, formally or informally, we all have a diverse range of valuable definitions and perspectives about artificial intelligence pertaining to teaching and learning.

    Teaching and learning with AI

    When I was a student in elementary school during the 1980s, AI was using a calculator rather than longhand or a traditional adding machine for arithmetic. Additionally, the entire school only had six computers for student use, which were housed in the library. Only students acting responsibly earned access to time on these devices to play The Oregon Trail, “an educational game that simulates the hardships of [1848] …”

    With all of this in mind, AI has been teaching us, and we’ve been learning from it, for quite some time, in and out of school.

    However, with the advancement of generative AI, the implications for teaching and learning now have to do more with academic integrity. And academic dishonesty policies about original work vs. AI in education have come into the conversation. This is where MindTap features like Turnitin can be applied to help monitor students’ acceptable and ethical use of AI in English composition courses.

    My conversation with students

    My students may engage in conversations about acceptable, ethical uses of GenAI and academic integrity before they even enroll in my courses. This is because I post the policies in my syllabus. Students learn that there is a monitoring system in place in MindTap for English by Turnitin. Once enrolled in MindTap, there are discussions, in both online and face-to-face modalities, about these policies at length. Policies are also copied into each of the writing assignments in MindTap. Our focus is on ethics, or academic integrity, to ensure students’ coursework is original. Valuable feedback, information and resources can be provided for students to learn and progress rather than to get a grade.

    Since students cannot prove learning and mastery of learning outcomes without work being original, I discuss with them and copy in their assignments that they should not use any words that are not original. MindTap provides me with access to Turnitin to monitor academic integrity.

      Turnitin AI detector screenshot

    Suggestions for monitoring

    To help monitor students’ use of AI, parameters in MindTap for English with Turnitin should be set. For example, students need to submit more than 300 words for the detector to perform. Once students submit work, the detector generates an originality report. This can be downloaded to provide the instructor and learner with feedback about the percentage amount of acceptable and ethical usage of AI or plagiarism.

    Turnitin inbox where the similarity percentage can be viewed and clicked on for expanded, detailed information.
    Inbox where the similarity percentage can be viewed and clicked on for expanded, detailed information.

    The report highlights where originality is in question directly on the student’s document. Some instructors will set percentage parameters as well, instructing students that there cannot be more than 15% flagged by the detector in MindTap. Clicking on what the detector has highlighted shows the possible source where information may have been taken or just generally that AI has been used. Note: this is just a monitoring system. So, please be mindful that the report is a tool instructors can use to have conversations with their students. We cannot accuse academic dishonesty based on a report alone.

    Turnitin shows the match overview with all of the plagiarism flagged, which can also be AI. Each part can be clicked on and expanded to show the original source.
    Shows the match overview with all of the plagiarism flagged, which can also be AI. Each part can be clicked on and expanded to show the original source.

    MindTap’s monitoring system has always been correct for me, but conversations are still beneficial for assurance. I use this monitoring document for every submission in MindTap.

    The big picture to consider

    AI can be used ethically as a tool for teaching and learning, bridging student learning gaps and strengthening their mastery of skills. However, when it comes to academic integrity, the concern is that GenAI is being used not as an aid, but as a tool devoid of the values of teaching and learning. According to Cengage’s recent research, 82% of instructors expressed concern specifically about AI and academic integrity. Setting policies and parameters with clear definitions and having conversations with students is essential to my ability to monitor my students’ acceptable use of AI.

    Do you use AI in your English composition classroom? Reach out to discuss the ways you’re utilizing AI as an ethical tool to advance teaching and learning.

    Written by Faye Pelosi, Professor in the Communications Department at Palm Beach State College and Cengage Faculty Partner. 

    Stay tuned for Professor Pelosi’s upcoming video demo of how she uses the MindTap Turnitin feature in her English course.

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  • 5 Ways to Monitor Your Child’s Time with Technology

    5 Ways to Monitor Your Child’s Time with Technology

    Early Childhood Education

    Photo: Courtesy of Kelly Sikkema

    Technology and the internet have created countless new opportunities for teaching and learning. Students can now read about virtually any subject from anywhere and connect with people and places around the world. Teachers are harnessing this power to bring curriculum alive, and modify instruction to meet the unique needs of every child.

    Digital learning gives students the skills they need to succeed, in school and their chosen careers. And while having a bounty of information at our fingertips has many benefits, it also comes with risks and potential pitfalls.

    As we tell kids to look both ways before crossing the street and teach them to practice good behavior, it is just as important to talk to them about being responsible and safe in the increasingly digital world, and show them that the rules of life also apply online.

    As we guide the next generation of digital citizens, here are five ways families can help children make smarter decisions online and when using technology:

    1. Limit screen time

    Be assertive about when your child can use his or her phone or tablet. For instance, if your 8-year-old is using a tablet for playing app games and accessing learning tools for homework, set aside a certain number of hours after school and over the weekend to do this. If you are giving your 15-year-old permission to take a smartphone to school, collect the phone when he or she returns home (and for dinner and bedtime). Establish an “online” and “offline” schedule to create balance between the real world and cyber world.

    2. Activate privacy settings

    You can enable or install a variety of features, depending on how your child uses their device, such as location tracking, parental control for internet content and mobile usage monitoring apps. This will keep your child safe and protect his or her privacy. It is also important to talk to your child about smart usernames and passwords and what information is and isn’t appropriate to share online.

    3. Address health precautions and other risks

    Teach your child about the potential risks of overusing smartphones and other digital devices. For teens, it is critical to stress no texting and driving. You also should talk to your kids about not getting caught up in negative conversations that could lead to cyberbullying.

    4. Monitor and model your technology use

    Review your personal example in teaching your child good digital habits, like not bringing your phone to the dinner table, never driving and texting or turning off all devices and storing them in a common area well before bedtime. Kids follow what adults do, and they benefit greatly when expectations and good digital habits are modeled for them.

    5. Make a contract with your child or teen

    Find 20 minutes to invest in your family’s online well-being by creating a personalized family plan to guide your technology use. Online resources and apps are available to help you have an open dialogue about online behaviors and agree on healthy limits. You can then create an official family contract to post in your home as a reminder.

    It is important that families have open, ongoing conversations about devices and technology use. It will help children build good digital habits and ensure they have the skills they need to be responsible.

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