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Generative AI tools like Microsoft Copilot are transforming how we work in higher education, enabling faculty, staff, and administrators to streamline workflows, enhance communication, and support inclusive, student-centered design. To use AI responsibly and effectively, it’s essential to understand both when and how to apply AI to specific tasks—and to do so with ethical and legal considerations in mind. Structured prompt frameworks can help shape queries that are clear, contextual, and yield meaningful results aligned with institutional values.
The following examples (and attached activities) illustrate practical use cases for generative AI in academic and administrative contexts:
• Summarizing Documents: Use AI to extract key ideas from long-form content such as research papers, meeting notes, or policy documents. This is ideal when efficiency is needed, but all outputs must be verified for accuracy and compliance with copyright.
• Drafting Communications: AI can generate professional messages, such as emails, memos, and announcements. These drafts should always be reviewed to ensure factual correctness, tone alignment, and adherence to institutional voice.
• Creating Quiz Bank Questions: AI supports the rapid generation of diverse assessment items, which can be aligned with course outcomes and Bloom’s taxonomy. All questions must be reviewed for pedagogical soundness, clarity, and IP compliance.
• Designing Rubrics: AI can draft performance-based rubrics that define criteria and performance levels. This accelerates the instructional design process, but all outputs should be refined to match academic standards and ensure fairness.
• Generating Alt Text for Images: AI assists in creating accessible content by drafting alternative text for images, especially when processing large volumes. These descriptions must be verified for contextual relevance and accessibility best practices.
• Using Structured Prompt Frameworks: To increase the quality of AI outputs, prompt frameworks such as RAFT, CLEAR, PROMPT, and RISEN help users shape queries around purpose, role, tone, audience, and complexity. These models are especially helpful when crafting learning materials, policy language, or strategic communications.
Each of these activities demonstrates how AI can enhance productivity while supporting inclusive, accessible, and pedagogically sound practices. However, all AI-generated content must be reviewed by a human for accuracy, appropriateness, and alignment with institutional policies, including those related to copyright, intellectual property, and accessibility.
* Components of this KB article were drafted with AI for consistency and concision