algonquin college creative writing

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Creative Writing

The Banff Centre’s Literary Arts department offers writers and publishers unique courses to develop their professional skills. Participants can choose from a variety of residencies, workshops, retreats, internships, and special projects.

The University of Alberta offers a minor BA in Creative Writing and a Combined Honours degree in Creative Writing. The university also emphasizes community outreach with its long-running Writer-in-Residence Program.

The University of Alberta offers a certificate in Writing and Editing through the Faculty of Extension. Students may choose from a variety of short, non-credit courses covering a wide range of writing, editing, and publishing topics.

The University of Calgary offers a bachelor degree in Creative Writing, as well as an MA and a PhD in English with a creative thesis option.

British Columbia

Langara’s Creative Writing program explores poetry, prose, fiction, non-fiction, and stageplay. In a reading and writing-rich environment, you will be challenged to express yourself through different voices as you study a variety of forms and techniques.

Break through writer’s block, perfect your prose, and unleash the writer within. Continuing Studies creative writing courses tackle a variety of subjects, including food writing, blogging, novels, short stories, and screenplays.

The two-year diploma in Writing and Publishing offered by Okanagan College provides a solid foundation in four areas: creative and literary writing, publishing, communications and business.

Simon Fraser University’s Writing and Publishing Program offers The Writer’s Studio: A Certificate in Creative Writing. The part-time, one-year program, provides students with sustained training in the genre of their choice.

The University of British Columbia offers a BFA and an MFA in Creative Writing, with study in nine literary genres, as well as a distance education BFA program. Students are required to work in three genres to better develop their skills.

The University of Victoria offers either a BA or a BFA in Writing. The Department of Writing focuses on workshops, lectures, and writer visits and covers all genres.

Undergraduates at Vancouver Island University can take a BA Major or Minor in Creative Writing through the Department of Creative Writing and Journalism. All genres are studied, and students have the opportunity to learn about the publishing industry.

The University of Winnipeg offers several English degrees, including a four-year BA with a specialization in Creative Writing. Courses cover fiction, poetry, and children’s literature.

Newfoundland and Labrador

Memorial University offers the Diploma in Creative Writing as a means of augmenting a degree program. Students learn to write for different genres and focus on critiquing and editing their own compositions.

New Brunswick

The University of New Brunswick offers a Creative Writing option in both the English BA Major and BA Honours programs. The Department of English also offers an MA in Creative Writing and encourages graduate students to contribute to The Fiddlehead.

Nova Scotia

The Department of English at Dalhousie University offers all students the opportunity to take the Creative Writing Concentration in addition to a regular course of study, resulting in a Double Major BA or Combined Honours BA.

Algonquin College’s year-long graduate certificate in Scriptwriting program provides students with the experience to produce scripts for stage, film, television, broadcast and non-broadcast video, new media, and radio.

George Brown College offers Novel Writing Certificate and Story Writing Certificate programs through its continuing education department. Students have the option to attend classes on site or through distance education.

Humber College’s School of Creative & Performing Arts offers creative writing graduate certificates in two different areas: Comic Scriptwriting and Fiction, Creative Non-Fiction, Poetry.

Humber’s Centre of Excellence in Writing and Publishing offers two part-time graduate certificate programs: Creative Writing by Correspondence and the Humber School for Writers Summer Workshop.

The Humber School of Writers offers a Creative Writing program aimed at serious writers looking to develop book-length manuscripts. This correspondence course runs for 30 weeks and employs well-known authors as student mentors.

Trent University offers a Certificate in Creative Writing course for continuing education students. The curriculum includes a range of courses as well as a four-month mentorship program during which the student works closely with a published author.

The University of Toronto offers an MA in English in the Field of Creative Writing. Students participate in writing workshops and a writing project in their chosen genre.

The School of Continuing Studies at the University of Toronto offers a Certificate in Creative Writing program. Participants specialize in a particular genre or style, choosing from creative non-fiction, drama, poetry, short fiction, novels, screenplays,

The University of Western Ontario offers both a certificate in Creative Writing for those who have not graduated from university and a diploma in Creative Writing for those who hold an undergraduate degree.

In York University‘s Program in Creative Writing, students have the flexibility to complete their BAs as a major, a minor, or a variety of other interdisciplinary combinations.

Prince Edward Island

The English department of the University of Prince Edward Island offers a BA in English with a special interest in Creative Writing. The Centre of Life-Long Learning at UPEI also occasionally offers short, non-credit courses in creative writing.

Concordia University’s Department of English offers an undergraduate degree in Creative Writing. Classes include small workshops in which students learn about poetry, fiction, drama, scriptwriting and editing with published writers.

Concordia University offers a three-year undergraduate degree in Playwriting. Students receive a grounding in the necessary writing skills and are introduced to all aspects of the theatre, including acting, administration and design.

The Université de Montréal offers a bachelor in screenwriting and creative writing. Students are introduced to various forms and styles of writing, including writing for television and film, novels, journalism, poetry, and theatre.

The Université du Québec à Montréal offers a certificate in creative writing. Students examine French-language poetry, narrative genres, and essays.

Saskatchewan

The Sage Hill Writing Experience is a rural writing retreat open to writers of all ages and levels. Short programs for adults and teens are offered through the summer.

The University of Regina offers an undergraduate degree in English with a Concentration in Creative Writing. The Department of English also offers an MA with a specialization in Creative Writing.

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Citing Sources and Avoiding Plagiarism

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Citing and Documenting Sources

Avoid plagiarism by learning the basics about academic integrity and citation.

The following formats are recommended by APA, MLA, IEEE and other citation styles; however, you should format your citations according to your professor’s guidelines.

APA 7th Ed. Resources

• Artificial Intelligence (AI)

Indigenous Elders and Knowledge Keepers (Oral Communication)

The following format is recommended by APA guidelines; however, you should always format your papers according to your professor’s guidelines.

• APA Style Manual 2024

Below are a few of the videos created by Humber College libraries explaining how to reference different types of resources in APA format. See all videos in the playlist here

• APA 7th Ed from Purdue University Online Writing Lab This guide will help you learn how to use the American Psychological Association (APA) citation and format style. This section contains resources on in-text citation and the References page, as well as APA sample papers, slide presentations, and the APA classroom poster.
• APA Style Citation Tutorial ebook (7th Edition)
• APA Seventh Edition Tutorial This tutorial is designed by the American Psychological Association for those unfamiliar with this style format.
• Quick Handout from the official APA 7th edition website.
• Style and Grammar Guidelines: APA 7th Ed.

Citing AI-generated Content in Assignments

Can I use generative AI in my assignment?

• Always check with your instructor first! Before starting your assignment, confirm with your instructor that you are permitted to use generative AI tools such as ChatGPT. Unauthorized use of generative software may constitute an academic integrity offence.

Do I need to cite content generated by artificial intelligence?

• Remember to include a citation whenever you incorporate content generated by AI in your assignment. For example, if you paraphrased or quoted text generated by ChatGPT, cite the source in text and in your references list. Neglecting to cite this material may constitute an academic integrity offence. Since your reader can't access the exact AI-generated text, you may also consider including a copy of the text as an appendix, or as part of supplemental materials.

What if I use AI to come up with ideas or an outline for my assignment?

• As part of using artificial intelligence responsibly and ethically, it is important to be transparent and acknowledge how you have used AI in your work. If you used AI to generate ideas or an outline or your assignment, include a statement in your work indicating which AI tools you used and how you used them. Neglecting to include this statement may constitute an academic integrity offence.

Are there risks to using AI content as a source?

• Be aware that there is a possibility that the content AI generates is biased, outdated, or false. Always evaluate the information generated by AI tools. Students are responsible for the accuracy, factuality, and truthfulness of artificial intelligence content used to assist with, and in, assessments.

Text generated by an AI tool (e.g., ChatGPT)

Note: AI-generated content may not be considered as an acceptable source for your course work. Be sure to evaluate the content carefully and check with your instructor if you are permitted to use it as a source. If you're using ChatGPT and other AI tools for coursework, include a description of how you used AI within your work. For example, you can describe in your introduction how you used ChatGPT to generate an outline for your presentation. When citing AI-generated text, remember to include both in-text and references list citations. For more information, see APA Style's How to cite ChatGPT .

Reference List

Developer. (Version Year). Name of generative AI tool (Version number) [Type of AI Model]. URL of tool

Example: OpenAI. (2023). ChatGPT (Mar 23 version) [Large language model]. https://chat.openai.com

In-Text Citation (Quote or Paraphrase)

Remember to include the prompt you used whenever you quote or paraphrase text generated by an AI tool. Since your reader can't access the exact AI-generated text, you may also consider including a copy of the text as an appendix or as part of supplemental materials. If you are including a copy of the generated text, you may refer to it in the body of your text, or as part of the in-text citation such as in the example below.

Given the prompt "What are large language models?" the text generated by ChatGPT described them as "artificial intelligence systems that have been trained on vast amounts of text data, with the goal of understanding natural language and generating human-like responses to text-based inputs" (OpenAI, 2023).

When provided with a follow up prompt of "What are examples of large language models?" ChatGPT identified OpenAI's GPT-3, NVIDIA's Megatron, and Google's LaMDA as some of the examples of large language models (OpenAI, 2023; see Appendix A for the full transcript).

Image generated by an AI tool (e.g., DALL-E, Midjourney)

Note: AI-generated content may not be considered as an acceptable source for your course work. Be sure to evaluate the content carefully and check with your instructor if you are permitted to use it as a source. The following citation examples are Seneca Libraries' recommendations.

Reproducing the image in your work

If you are inserting the AI-generated image in your coursework, start with a figure number followed by an image title. Beneath the image, include a note with details about the prompt and the source. Remember to include the full citation in your References List.

Reference List Citation

Developer's Name. (Version Year).  Name of AI tool  (Version number) [Type of AI model]. URL of tool

Example:  OpenAI. (2023).  DALL-E  (Version 2) [Large language model].  https://labs.openai.com

Notes: This citation guide is based on the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association (7th ed.). The contents are accurate to the best of our knowledge. Some examples illustrate Seneca Libraries' recommendations and are marked as modifications of the official APA guidelines.

Note : This template should be used when citing oral communication with Indigenous Elders and Knowledge Keepers. If you are citing material authored by an Indigenous person, please follow the appropriate citation template for citing the source. For example, follow the citation template for a book when citing a novel written by an Indigenous author.

Other Citation Resources

• APA 6th Ed.
• Chicago Style
• Other Styles
• Citation Tools
• Plagiarism Checkers
• Annotated Bibs
• Lit Reviews
• Purdue University's Online Writing Lab: MLA Formatting and Style Guide (9th ed.) - Opens in a new window This guide provides information on formatting your paper and referencing both print and electronic sources.
• Simon Fraser University Library MLA Citation Guide (8th ed.) - Opens in a new window This guide includes information on how to cite many sources including Tweets, Canadian government documents and Custom Courseware.
• EasyBib - The Ultimate Guide to MLA Eighth Edition - Opens in a new window This guide provides guidance on how to cite sources according the the eighth edition of MLA.

Books in Our Collection

For spelling reference, IEEE uses  The Merriam-Webster Dictionary . For guidance on grammar and source styles not included in the IEEE Editorial Style Manual, consult  The Chicago Manual of Style , published by the University of Chicago Press.

• IEEE Editorial Style Manual - Opens in a new window
• IEEE Overview Purdue the OWL. This page will introduce you to the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) style for formatting research papers and citing sources. IEEE – pronounced “I-triple-E” – is a style widely used among all branches of engineering, computer science, and other technological fields.
• IEEE Referencing Style -University of York - Opens in a new window This guide from the University of York, England, includes guidelines for IEEE style.
• Waterloo University Writing and Communication Centre IEEE Guide - Opens in a new window
• IEEE Citation Guide: Getting started with IEEE referencing This guide is from the New Jersey Institute of Technology. It explains the use of IEEE in very clear terms and even in video. It gives many excellent examples of citations and different resource types.
• IEEE Handout
• Introduction to IEEE Citation (PowerPoint)
• ACOV APA Style Manual 2019 - Opens in a new window

Online Modules

• APA 6 Module 1: Plagiarism
• APA 6 Module 2: Introduction to APA Papers
• APA 6 Module 3: Incorporating Sources
• APA 6 Module 4: General Format
• APA 6 Module 5: Creating an APA Reference Page
• APA Sixth Edition Tutorial - Opens in a new window This tutorial is designed by the American Psychological Association for those unfamiliar with this style format.
• Purdue University Online Writing Lab 6th Ed. - Opens in a new window This guide provides assistance in rephrasing material.

• Purdue Online Writing Lab introduction to Chicago Manual of Style (CMOS). 17th ed. This page will help you learn to use the Chicago Manual of Style (CMOS) citation and format style.
• Chicago Manual of Style Homepage. 17th ed.
• Simon Fraser - Turabian Style Humanities style Chicago/Turabian (17th ed.)
• BibMe - Opens in a new window This fully automatic bibliography maker is an easy way to generate citations to build a works cited page. Includes APA 6th ed., MLA 7th ed., Chicago 16th ed. and more
• Citation Machine - Opens in a new window Helps students and professionals properly credit the information that they use. Cite sources in APA, MLA, Chicago, or Turabian for free. 7th ed. of MLA, 6th ed. of APA, and 16th ed. of Chicago (8th ed. Turabian).
• Cite This For Me - Opens in a new window A free web tool to generate citations, reference lists and bibliographies!
• EasyBib Citation Generator - Opens in a new window This citation tool from automatically creates citations. Easy Bib can create citations using 7th ed. or 8th ed. of MLA, the 6th ed. of APA, and 16th ed. of Chicago (8th ed. Turabian).
• EduBirdie : IEEE Citation Generator (includes MLA, APA and Chicago) Free and Comprehensive Guide & IEEE Citation Generator
• Knightcite - Opens in a new window This website from Calvin College includes a citation generator that will create citations in APA 6th ed, MLA 7th ed. and 16 ed. of Chicago Style (7th Turabian). (Note: this tool will be updated to reflect the 8th edition of MLA, but will continue supporting 7th ed.)
• Scribbr Citation Generator Scribbr's APA Citation Generator, you can search for your source by title, URL, ISBN, or DOI and generate accurate APA citations in seconds..
• Copyleaks Plagiarism Checker Free software online that can detect AI generated content, verify ownership and empower error-free writing. Sign up is required to see your content report.
• EasyBib Plagiarism Checker This tool allows you to check your writing for passages copied from another source, as well as for grammar errors. The plagiarism checker requires you to sign up for a paid account.
• Grammarly Plagiarism Checker This free tool allows you to upload or copy and paste your writing to check for text that was copied from elsewhere. This tool will also give you feedback on grammar, spelling, and other writing issues.
• Scribbr Plagiarism Checker Using Turnitin.com to compare your document to the world’s largest content database, covering 99.3 billion web pages, 8 million publications and over 20 languages. Scribbr is free but to see the suggestions you have to upgrade (for a fee) to premium.
• Cornell University Library : Annotated Bibliography - Opens in a new window This library guide explains how to create an annotated bibliography.
• How to Write an Annotated Bibliography from Simon Fraser University

The Literature Review is a comprehensive scan of previously published research on a specific topic. Authors use the literature review to provide readers with a current understanding of the topic, and identify existing research gaps. Literature reviews usually investigate peer reviewed literature as these research papers have undergone a thorough review for quality before being selected for publication.

• Literature Review introduction and activity from the Student Learning Portal
• Grammarly: How to write a Stellar Literature Review
• 7 Steps to Writing a Literature Review From Guelph University.
• How to Write a Literature Review Pautasso M. (2013). Ten simple rules for writing a literature review. PLoS computational biology, 9(7), e1003149. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pcbi.1003149
• How to Write a Literature Review for Nursing From Regis College.

Why is Academic Integrity so important?

• Academic Integrity- College Policy AA48: Academic Integrity - Opens in a new wiAvoiding Plagiarism - Algonquin Cndow Algonquin College policy AA48: Academic Integrity. Read this policy to learn about how the College defines plagiarism and its consequences at the College.
• Academic Integrity - The Learning Portal Learn more about the concept of Academic Integrity.
• Academic Integrity Student Resources Find information and resources about Academic Integrity.
• Academic Integrity Faculty Resources Find information about Academic Integrity for Faculty.

What is AI? How do I cite AI? Check out our AI: Generative Artificial Intelligence Guide for more information.

APA 7th Ed. Modules

The modules below cover how to use APA 7 to format your papers and cite your sources. Check with your professors to see which edition of APA they want you to use.

Module 1: Plagiarism

Find out what constitutes plagiarism and how you can avoid plagiarizing in your own work.

Module 2: Introduction to APA Papers

Get an introduction to APA style and find out what to look for when researching for an APA paper.

Module 3: Incorporating Sources

Learn how to incorporate information into your paper using paraphrasing, direct quotes, and in-text citations.

Module 4: General Format

Learn how to format your paper and create a title page using APA guidelines.

Module 5: Creating an APA Reference Page

Learn how to format a reference page and create citations for different types of sources.

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Visit the the How To Cite module in The Learning Portal for additional tips and information on citing your sources.

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• Last Updated: Aug 30, 2024 1:20 PM
• URL: https://algonquincollege.libguides.com/citingandreferencing

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Looking back to how stittsville central got started on september 1, 2014, stittsville library news and events for september, share the joy of outer space in september with lucy hambly, perfect program for aspiring writers at algonquin college.

The Professional Writing program is a fairly new addition to Algonquin College , but the exceptional staff and diverse array of courses make it the perfect choice for aspiring writers .

Whether you’d like to one day work as an editor, content writer, freelancer, author, or simply improve your writing for your own sake, the Professional Writing program will teach you all of the skills you’ll need to advance forward .

The program teaches students creativity and improvisational writing while also focusing on design and the many forms of editing .

Plenty of students found the Creative Writing, Writing for the Web, and Design courses to be exceptionally exciting and informative.

The professors are all knowledgeable and beyond excited to teach their students new tips and tricks, and are always open to help when needed.

Taking the Professional Writing program was an amazing choice for me. It gave me the opportunity to explore different types of writing and develop my skills further. It also helped me become more confident in my writing and more willing to share it with the world.

We were taught how to write podcast scripts, short stories, poetry, blogs, and speeches among many other things, and given different platforms to share them on such as the Algonquin Times and Spine Online .

I also had the opportunity to meet some amazing people and learn so many useful skills that I was able to take with me to my co-op placement here at Stittsville Central .

Thanks to the program, my transition into writing for the public was much smoother, and it didn’t take me long to catch onto all of the little details that go into writing a variety of articles and press releases.

Without taking the Professional Writing program, I don’t think I ever would have gained the confidence to write something and post it online for the world to see .

Now, I not only have a much better understanding of how to write both professionally and creatively, but I’ve also been given a great opportunity to share my writing with the people of Stittsville.

If your dream is to work amongst other interesting and like-minded individuals doing something you love, Algonquin College will be welcoming a new group of students to the Professional Writing program this September , and you could be one of them!

To learn more about whether or not Algonquin College’s Professional Writing program is right for you, check out the Algonquin College website here .

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Find Your Program

Creative and Professional Writing Certificate

The certificate in creative and professional writing will enhance your writing skills, introduce you to new and exciting career pathways and boost your confidence as a writer. You’ll take one core course from the Writing Studies M.A. program, followed by four electives of your choosing. Saint Joseph's University offers a variety of professional courses, such as Writers at Work, Poetry Today and Writing for Publication , plus creative writing courses that include screenwriting, fiction writing and nonfiction writing.

What Sets Our Program Apart

Our faculty are noted writing experts who have the experience and network to support you in your writing career. Evening classes are small and designed for working professionals. Work at your own pace by choosing one, two or three courses per term. The certificate can be completed in as little as two semesters or up to two years.

The certificate in creative and professional writing is a stackable certificate, meaning the credits you earn can be applied toward a master's degree. Students who successfully complete the certificate program with a GPA of 3.0 or higher can then take five additional courses to earn an M.A. in Writing Studies.

You’ll take one core course from the Writing Studies MA program, followed by four electives of your choosing. Saint Joseph's University offers a variety of professional courses, such as Writers at Work, Poetry Today and Writing for Publication , plus creative writing courses that include screenwriting, fiction writing and nonfiction writing.

What Can You Do with a Creative and Professional Writing Certificate?

Saint Joseph's University's creative and professional writing certificate is designed for anyone seeking professional development, a career in writing or communications, knowledge of publishing or guidance in portfolio development for further graduate study. Certificate holders have gone on to pursue the following career positions:

• Technical writer
• Medical writer
• Public relations manager
• Communications director

Program Details

View required courses for this program in the  academic catalog . Please contact us if you have any questions about the program curriculum.

Affordable tuition rates can be found on our tuition and fees website . *

*Pricing does not include room and board, health insurance or any professional, clinical or transportation fees. Visit our tuition & fees page for a detailed breakdown.

Financial Aid & Discount Eligibility: Financial aid and discount options may be available to you to help offset the cost of your degree. Explore your options on our  financial aid page .

Graduate assistantships  are offered on a limited basis. Please contact the program director for availability.

Admission Information

• Apply  online .
• Submit official college transcripts from all colleges attended.
• Submit a personal statement.
• Submit resume.
• Submit two letters of recommendation.

Visit our  graduate admission information page  to learn more about admission requirements, key deadlines and how to submit your application.

Graduate applications are reviewed on a rolling basis. New students may enroll in courses during the fall, spring or summer semesters.

Start Terms:

• Fall: August and October
• Spring: January and March
• Summer: May

If you’re applying as an international student, you must provide proof of English Language Proficiency and Certification of Finances along with your application. Check the  graduate admission page  for additional requirements.

SJU is a Yellow Ribbon School that accepts GI education benefits. Our  Office of Veterans’ Services  can help you access and understand your benefits.

Explore Other Degree Programs

Writing Studies MA

Saint Joseph’s Masters in Writing Studies offers flexible course scheduling for working professionals who seek to understand diverse styles of writing.

English & Professional Writing BLS

From the classroom to the boardroom, English majors at Saint Joseph’s University are not only detailed with each word choice but are able to express critical information to many different audiences in engaging ways.

An English degree from Saint Joseph’s University offers excellent training for a broad range of careers, from public relations to teaching to journalism and beyond. Employers continue to seek talented and articulate individuals who can analyze complex situations, and a degree in English will teach you how to write both creatively and persuasively.

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Learning and Teaching Services (LTS)

Guidelines for teaching with generative ai, introduction.

With the rapid evolution of Generative AI (GenAI), our understanding of its impact on learning and teaching changes daily. The following guidelines offer a starting point for making informed choices about integrating AI into the design and facilitation of learning experiences.

These guidelines will continue to evolve as we monitor the dynamic landscape of GenAI adoption within higher education.

Part 1: Principles Part 2: Guidelines

Part 1: Principles

At Algonquin College, we prioritize a human-centered approach to integrating Artificial Intelligence (AI) into our curriculum, teaching, and learning. We believe in adopting Generative AI technology with an intentional focus on supporting creative, critical, and ethically sound principles of practice by educators and learners alike. These principles provide context to inform the use of GenAI in our programs and courses. By embracing innovation and flexibility as a learning institution, Algonquin College:

Choice to Use/Not Use Generative AI

Recognizes that p rofessors , as educators and experts in their fields, have the choice to use, or not use , GenAI . Ideally, a strong rationale is offered in either case which is evidence-informed and/or research-based and aligns with the curriculum.  

Pedagogy Drives Technology (GenAI) Use

Believes that pedagogy drives technology use, not the other way around.   Technology disruption within higher education, such as GenAI , provide s an opportunity to design learning activities that are authentic and support deep learning. Decisions for integrating GenAI for learning are best informed by intentional pedagog y rather technology use for its own sake.      

Context Influences Use of GenAI

Acknowledges and respects that contextual and situational factors influence if and how GenAI is use d for teaching and learning. Impacts and adoption of GenAI will vary according to discipline and industry. Accordingly, when and how programs and professors approach the use of GenAI tools in their specific courses will differ .  

Intentional, Meaningful Integration of GenAI

Supports the meaningful integrat ion of GenAI . When used, GenAI will intentionally support learning outcomes and prepare students for their future workplace. Adoption by faculty and students will also be in accordance with Algonquin policies related to Academic Integrity (AA48) and its Generative AI Guidelines for Institutional Use .  

Staying Current with GenAI Critical For Student Success

Understands that staying current with discipline, industry, and educational standards of GenAI use is critical for student success . To equip learners with the skills competencies needed in a rapidly changing digital society, e ducators will continuous ly lear n about GenAI use in their fields and may apply GenAI practices within their own work.    

Supporting Development of Digital Fluency Skills

Commits to supporting students and faculty to develop digital fluency skills including the ethical and responsible use of GenAI . Reviewing GenAI generated content to identify possible bias and fact-check accuracy is vitally important. Ultimately, we are all responsible for being accurate and transparent with what we create , share , and call our own work .    

Exploration of GenAI Part of Teaching Practice

Believes that developing one’s own teaching practice involves open exploration and experimentation with technology, and with Gen AI , where applicable. By modelling a critically reflective stance and a transparent approach to continuous learning as an educator , others may embrace and emulate these approaches through their engagement with tools including GenAI .      

Privacy and Personal Safety is Paramount

Maintains that privacy and p ersonal safety for both educator and learner is paramount when using GenAI tools . This applies to both informal and formal learning contexts connected to curriculum, teaching, and learning activities at Algonquin College . Educators will adopt GenAI tools and college-recommended practice s, such as those outlined in the Generative AI Guidelines for Institutional Use , that safeguard individual identities and personal data .  

Part 2: Guidelines

This section provides general recommendations to guide programs and professors in planning their approach for the use of GenAI in their courses. Ultimately, it is important to keep in mind that:

• Learning with and about GenAI is beneficial for students Purposeful integration of AI into learning activities and assessments can prepare students for a work world in which AI tools are ubiquitous. Use of certain GenAI features may reduce barriers to learning and working for many students. Furthermore, understanding how GenAI tools work and what their strengths and limitations are will serve graduates well in their careers.
• Identifying instances of GenAI use with tools is difficult Existing AI detection tools are imperfect. Students can apply various techniques to avoid detection. Also, detector tools are currently unreliable and disproportionately target non-Native English speakers ( Perkins et. Al, 2024 ).

There is an opportunity to reconsider the learning goals, focus and structure of course learning activities and assessments to reinforce critical thinking, problem solving, creativity, and reflection – all essential skills for our digital information age.

The rapidly evolving GenAI landscape does mean that impacts will unfold and change in character over time. Collaboration, discussion, and reflection on approaches taken within and across program and subject-area groups may be the best planning strategy for the continual change that is expected.

Program and Course Preparation

Program and Course-Level Planning When possible, program and course teams are encouraged to meet and confirm an approach to integrating GenAI. Having a consistent direction may facilitate communication and reduce student confusion about what is considered acceptable and unacceptable use of GenAI tools.  

Assessment Review Before the beginning of a new semester, professors can view their learning activities and assessments to consider how the use of GenAI may impact those experiences. If there is a risk of GenAI misuse by students, revision or redesign of the assessment may be required. Assessment updates may involve revising assessment rubrics and other grading guides to reflect what good use of GenAI in assignments looks like.

Review Your Learning Activities and Assessments (in  Generative AI in Teaching Faculty Guide)

Teaching with GenAI

Use College-Supported GenAI Tools to Support Teaching Work Many specific GenAI tools are being marketed to provide time-savings ways to complete teaching tasks. These include specific tools for creating syllabi, rubrics, and lesson plans. For data protection and security, professors are asked to use Algonquin College’s approved GenAI chatbot tool which is Microsoft Copilot . For more information about using GenAI tools, see the GenAI Use and Data Protection section for more details.

Please note that at present, the College does not have student licenses available for Copilot.  Student access to Microsoft Copilot is actively being investigated by Algonquin College’s Information Technology Services (ITS) department.

Acknowledge Use of GenAI for Creating Course Material When Appropriate To model transparency and attribution practices to students, professors are encouraged to acknowledge use of GenAI in the creation of course learning materials.  Consider acknowledging content that is directly created by or significantly influenced by GenAI. Attribution may include citing the use of GenAI  or including a statement of acknowledgement within your materials. When incorporating GenAI content, ensure that you carefully review the content for accuracy and potential bias

How to Attribute GenAI Use 

Avoid Using GenAI Tools for Grading To speed up the grading process, it is tempting to use chatbot GenAI tools such as ChatGPT to grade student work. However, GenAI grading can introduce inconsistencies and bias into grading results. Research has shown that small changes in prompt wording and input can lead to drastically variable results ( Furze, 2024 ). Furthermore, uploading student assignments to publicly available tools (other than organizationally licensed and data protected tools such as Algonquin’s Microsoft Copilot) carries the risk of sharing personal student information and student work with companies for their use. Most importantly, the impersonal nature of GenAI-created feedback may hinder the development of authentic relationships with students. Authentic assessments offer a more learner-centred approach that offer students opportunities for more personalized feedback.

Supporting Academic Integrity

Not All Use of GenAI by Students is Misuse GenAI tools have tremendous potential to enhance the learning experience for students. As an assistant, it can support aspects of the learning process that are often significant roadblocks to success. It is important to recognize that not all use of GenAI is necessarily misuse. It will depend on the learning outcomes and specific parameters of an assignment. However, given the power and convenience of these tools, students may be tempted to resort to misuse by allowing GenAI to do much of their learning work. Aside from submitting work that is not truly theirs, they may also submit inadequate work that does not match assignment instructions and course learning requirements.

Identify and Communicate Clear Expectations for Use of GenAI To avoid confusion, it is important to establish clear expectations for if and how students can use GenAI for specific assignments and learning activities. When designing assessments, identify and clearly communicate to students what effective use and misuse of GenAI in work looks like.

Support Assistive Use of GenAI When Appropriate Learners may need guidance understanding the difference between assistive use of GenAI, in which the tool is a partner, and passively using GenAI –generated results without critical review and modification. When appropriate, plan activities in which students discuss or practice the assistive use of GenAI and reflect on how that is different from off-loading significant learning and thinking activities to these tools.

Include Generative AI Use Statements Start by including Generative AI Use Statements within your course information and assignment instructions that outline what is permitted and prohibited use of GenAI in your course.

Encouraging appropriate use of GenAI can be reinforced beyond the inclusion of statements within course outlines and assignment instructions. Continual conversation about the importance of effective, critically reflective use of GenAI is important for their future careers and for being ethical digital citizens.

Discuss Appropriate and Inappropriate Use of GenAI   Consider setting expectations for GenAI use as part of your first day of class activities. Part of this activity could involve discussing the current and future use of GenAI within your industry or discipline. It is an opportunity to discuss the importance of developing foundational skills they need to succeed in their chosen fields by not over relying on GenAI.

Share specific examples of what GenAI use and misuse looks like in your course.   Reinforce that use of GenAI to complete assessments that do not follow the expectations that you have set could be considered academic misconduct according to Algonquin College’s Academic Integrity Policy (AA48) . Encourage students to review resources provided by the Library and attend workshops hosted by the Student Learning Centre. Also, tell students to ask for early clarification to avoid getting a poor grade due to misunderstanding GenAI use expectations.

Student Workshops , Student Learning Centre Topics include research, GenAI 101, and avoiding plagiarism)

Discuss How You Wish Students to Cite and Acknowledge Use of GenAI Tools  Share citation and use acknowledgement examples and review guidelines for proper attribution of GenAI tool use.

Use of Detection Tools to Identify GenAI Use is Not Recommended Current GenAI detection tools are considered unreliable since they provide both false positives and undetected instances of GenAI use at a fairly high rate ( Perkins et. al , 2024). Due to these concerns, Algonquin College decided not to purchase an AI detection tool .  

In cases in which students are wrongfully accused of GenAI misuse, it can be a stressful and time-consuming situation that leads to appeals. In some cases, tool detection of misuse may be connected to use of writing assistant tools such as Grammarly. Many students whose first language is not English are accustomed to use writing and translation tools which are embedded with GenAI various features. Many rely on these tools as an assistant for expressing their ideas in English more clearly.

Furthermore, uploading student work to publicly available GenAI detector tools also raises concerns about data privacy and how companies are using that shared information.  

To support academic integrity, a more proactive approach may be to design assessments that emphasize process over product and are scaffolded into smaller parts rather than one high-stakes submission. Also, providing examples of what appropriate and inappropriate use of GenAI in student work looks like can help students understand what is expected.

Identifying Potential Misuse of GenAI   For certain kinds of student work, there are characteristics that may indicate misuse of GenAI . These characteristics become especially apparent when different forms of student learning are observed at different times . It is recommended that professors take a multi-pronged approach to fairly identifying GenAI misuse.  

GenAI Tools and Data Protection

Use College-Supported GenAI Tools Algonquin College provides faculty and employees access to Microsoft Copilot which can assist your creation of learning content and various types of teaching supports.

As a college-provided tool, Copilot comes with data protection which ensures that information you upload to the chatbot does not become part of its AI training model. This provides assurance that college and individual information will not be collected and used by Microsoft for its own use.  

Using publicly available tools, especially if they are provided for free, means that information you share while signing up and content that you upload may be collected and used by the company. Therefore, it is important to review the Terms of Use for such tools before deciding to use them.

Using Algonquin credentials to sign up for non-approved tools is discouraged due to the significant security risks to the College that can inadvertently ensue. If you wish to use GenAI tools not approved by Algonquin, use your own personal email account. Be sure not to upload confidential, restricted, or personal identifiable information PPI (e.g. student names etc.).

For further details, please refer to Generative AI Guidelines for Institutional Use .  

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