Before we get properly underway, let me just reiterate that you must always follow any university and departmental guidance on using AI tools in assessed work.
In our last post on the ethics of using generative AI, we started looking at the importance of understanding the responsibilities that come with using these tools. The key message in that post was the need to familiarise yourself with Aberystwyth University’s guidelines on AI usage.
This week, we’re covering another important topic: being transparent about your use of AI tools in assessed work.
As generative AI becomes more widely available, universities are emphasising the importance of academic integrity and clear disclosure when using these technologies.
Using AI can be a valuable aid in research, brainstorming, and drafting, but it’s essential to be upfront about how and where you’ve used it.
Being open about your use of AI tools is vital for maintaining academic integrity. Transparency shows your commitment to honesty and ethical study practices.
Key Takeaway: Why Transparency Matters:
It demonstrates your academic honesty.
It reflects your commitment to ethical study practices.
It highlights your critical thinking skills.
It reinforces your professional accountability.
How to Acknowledge AI Usage:
Academic departments and module coordinators will be best placed to advise you on how you should acknowledge AI outputs. These might include:
AI tool-use statements.
Advice on correct referencing and citation practices for AI outputs.
Today, 7 February, is Welsh Language Music Day – a day which celebrates all forms of Welsh Language music. Whether you’re into indie, rock, punk, funk, folk, electronica, hip hop or anything else, there’s incredible music being made in the Welsh language for you to discover. Find out more about the day here with links to Spotify playlists.
Our librarians have curated a Box of Broadcasts playlist of some of their favourite documentaries and performances to get you on track with music in Welsh
When I first set out to write about the ethics of using generative AI, I thought it would be just a single blog post. But the deeper I dug, the more there was to explore. So, instead of just one post, this topic has turned into a spin-off series of its own (think House of the Dragon to Game of Thrones!)
Over the past few weeks, we’ve explored how generative AI tools like ChatGPT and Perplexity are transforming how users interact with library resources. But with these advancements come important ethical considerations.
The first, and arguably most important, step in using generative AI responsibly is understanding your university’s AI policies. Familiarising yourself with the guidelines ensures you stay academically honest and allows you to make informed decisions about AI use.
Here’s are some things to keep in mind:
University-wide Guidelines
Review the university’s official policies on using AI in academic work.
Check for specific rules about AI in assignments, exams, or research projects.
Departmental Advice
Look for any AI-related guidance provided by your academic department.
Pay attention to instructions or updates from your module tutors about AI use.
Module-specific Rules
Some modules may have unique rules about using AI tools.
Check your module handbook or ask your module coordinator if you’re unsure about what’s allowed.
Consequences of Misuse
Misusing AI or failing to acknowledge its role could be considered academic misconduct.
Be aware of the potential consequences, such as:
Failed assignments.
Disciplinary action.
Harm to your academic reputation.
By understanding these policies, you can use AI responsibly and meet the university’s expectations while maintaining academic integrity.
Here at the library, we’re big fans of Primo, the library catalogue. With Primo, you’re not just able to find the books on our shelves, you’re also getting access millions of digital resources, all ready and waiting at your fingertips.
But with so many resources available to you, searching the library catalogue can sometimes feel frustrating. If you use too broad a search (e.g. “history”) then you are inundated with results. Too narrow a search term (“Neo-Gothic architecture in rural Chile”) and you’ve got nothing!
So what can you do? Our advice as subject librarians is to start by building a keyword vocabulary. Having a clear set of keywords will make your searches more targeted, helping you focus on the most relevant and useful resources. It’s a simple step that can make a huge difference in your research journey!
How Can AI Help You Build a Search Vocabulary?
An AI tool like ChatGPT can suggest smarter keywords, synonyms, and related concepts to make your searches more effective. Let’s look at some examples.
1. Smarter Alternatives to Broad Terms.
[Prompt] Suggest some keyword alternatives for “Climate change”
The AI might respond with:
Global warming.
Climate crisis.
Greenhouse effect.
2. Investigating Causes.
Want to explore what drives climate change? Try:
[Prompt] Provide me with a list of keywords for some of the main causes of climate change.
The response:
Carbon dioxide emissions.
Fossil fuels.
Industrial pollution.
Methane emissions.
3. Exploring Impacts.
Do you want to focus on how climate change affects the planet? Use:
[Prompt] Suggest keywords for the main impacts of climate change.
Response:
Sea level rise.
Melting polar ice caps.
Extreme weather events.
Biodiversity loss.
Ocean acidification.
4. Looking for Solutions
For mitigation strategies, try:
[Prompt] Suggest keywords for how climate change can be mitigated.
Response
Renewable energy.
Carbon sequestration.
Climate change policies.
Green technology.
Sustainable development.
Putting It All Together
Finally, combine these ideas for a more complex search. For example:
{Prompt] Suggest a set of keyword searches to find resources on the effects of methane emissions on biodiversity loss and what can be done to mitigate those effects.
The AI might help you craft a search that looks like this:
Methane emissions and biodiversity.
Impact of methane on Arctic ecosystems.
Methane mitigation technologies in permafrost regions.
By using AI to build a targeted keyword vocabulary, you’ll spend less time searching and more time discovering the resources you need.
[Responses listed above were created with ChatGPT].
You probably don’t need us to tell you—there are a lot of AI tools out there. While ChatGPT might have grabbed the headlines early on, Perplexity AI is quickly becoming one of our favourites here in the library.
Perplexity AI is making waves in the world of information retrieval, and for good reason. Unlike its more conversational counterpart, ChatGPT, which often indulges in lengthy dialogues, Perplexity adopts a direct and efficient approach to answering queries. This makes it an ideal tool for those who need quick facts, thorough research, or insights into specific topics. Not only that, but it provides citations for all its responses.
Why Choose Perplexity?
Here are the standout features that make Perplexity a top choice:
Real-Time Information: Perplexity pulls fresh data directly from the web, ensuring you always get the most current information.
Clear Summaries: Instead of bombarding you with endless links, it delivers concise, direct answers to save you time.
[This is the big winner for us] Fact Verification: Every response comes with citations, so you can easily verify the credibility of the information and explore further if needed.
How can Perplexity help you?
Resource discovery. It can suggest effective keywords or phrases to refine your searches in the library catalogue or other online databases. (Stay tuned for our upcoming blog post on smart keyword searches)
Study Aid: It can quickly clarify topics, provide concise explanations, or further explore topics for better understanding, all of which can save time during study sessions.
Fact-Checking: Perplexity can quickly verify claims or statistics for essays or presentations, ensuring your work is both accurate and credible.
Some Things to Remember About Perplexity
Limited Conversation Depth: Perplexity isn’t as good as ChatGPT at maintaining contextual follow-ups or extended conversational exchanges.
Reliance on External Sources: While citations are a strong feature, the tool’s accuracy depends on the quality of its referenced sources. Always cross-check critical information where possible.
No Creative or Open-Ended Outputs: Perplexity isn’t designed for tasks like creative writing, brainstorming, or exploratory discussions—ChatGPT is much more suited to these tasks.
Putting it All Together.
Perplexity AI is a powerful tool for students and researchers, offering quick access to up-to-date information and helpful citations for fact-checking and further study.
Unlike ChatGPT, which excels in conversations, Perplexity delivers concise answers, making it ideal for academic work. It also helps you to discover further resources by suggesting effective search keywords.
However, it lacks the conversational depth of ChatGPT, and its accuracy depends on the quality of the sources that it cites. By combining both tools, you can make the most of your study time and make your research process more focused and effective.
AI can be a valuable tool to help you to get the most out of your time in the library. By utilising the conversational style of AI tools like ChatGPT, you can collaborate with the AI to refine searches, get personalised recommendations, and quickly discover relevant resources that meet your specific academic needs.
To get the best results from AI, it’s important to ask the right questions, and this is a skill in itself,
This skill, known as prompt building or prompt engineering, involves structuring your queries in a way that directly impacts the usefulness of the AI’s responses. Mastering this technique can significantly improve your results from AI tools. (For more on the importance of effective prompt building, see our AI and the Library Guide here).
What is an effective prompt?
A good AI prompt is concise, structured, and specific. You might like to think of it as a formula, where each element plays a role in making the prompt clear, targeted, and focused on the desired outcome.
The elements of the formula might look something like this:
Task + Topic + Structure + Style + Level
Let’s have a look at what we mean by those elements and how we might apply them in a library scenario.
The Task component of the formula specifies what you want the tool to do. Some examples might include: Find; Summarise; Explain; Describe; Compare.
The Topic defines the subject matter or scenario that we want the Task to explore. Examples might include: The Origins of the Second World War; Romanticism in English Literature; The Aims of Positive Psychology.
The Structure specifies the format in which the response should be presented. You could ask for responses in: One Sentence; 200 words; A Bullet Point List; A table; A Graphic or Chart.
The Style specifies how the content should be written. Styles might include: Formal; Informal; Academic; Witty.
The Level of detail indicates the depth and scope of the information needed. This level of detail could be a Basic Overview or an In-Depth Analysis (or anywhere inbetween!)
Here’s an example that you might use in the library. You want to find some library resources that will help you to answer the following question: “Analyse the themes and characteristics of English Romanticism in the poetry of William Wordsworth and Samuel Taylor Coleridge.”
Task: Find
Topic: Books that discuss English Romanticism and the poetry of William Wordsworth and Samuel Taylor Coleridge
Structure. A bullet point list
Style. Academic
Level. An introductory overview
The full prompt may look something like this:
Please find me some academic books that give an introductory overview of English Romanticism and the poetry of William Wordsworth and Samuel Taylor Coleridge and show them in a bullet point list.
This was the output that the AI provided* (for this example, we used perplexity.ai, a tool we will be reviewing in our next AI blog post):
*We always recommend checking any AI outputs for accuracy.
By getting to grips with the art of prompt building, you can more effectively communicate your needs to the AI. This ensures that the responses are both academically relevant and that they meet your specific learning needs – saving you time spent searching. You could then visit Primo, the library catalogue to see if the library has the suggested titles available for you.
As demonstrated in our example, a well-structured prompt can help you uncover valuable academic resources that can quickly help you get a better understanding of topics.
Welcome (back) to university! Whether you’re a new student or returning for another year, your Subject Librarian is here to help you get the best out of the library resources at Aberystwyth.
Each department has a subject librarian (a list of them can be found here)
Here are some of the things they can help with:
Finding your way around the library.
Getting to grips with the library catalogue (Primo) including:
Finding Books and Articles: Get help locating books, journal articles, and other materials for your work.
Accessing Databases: Learn how to navigate academic databases to find high-quality information.
Understanding how to evaluate the information that you find and how to spot possible misinformation.
Learning how to properly reference and cite your sources in various styles (APA, Harvard, MLA, etc.)
You can schedule a one-on-one meeting with your librarian here, or you will usually find one of the team on the Level F desk on the top floor of the Hugh Owen Library between the hours of 10am and 5pm.
For more information on our library services see our Library Guides here.
Don’t think that we’ve forgotten teachers or researchers. Do contact your subject librarian with any library-related questions and we’ll do our best to help. You can also find information on our Teacher’s Library Guide here, and our Researcher’s Library Guide here.
Today is Shwmae Su’mae Day, a day to celebrate and promote the Welsh language.
You’ll have plenty of opportunities during your time at Aber to learn and to use Welsh, so here’s a quick peek at some of the ways to make the most of it!
Remember you can also download apps, such as Duolingo, to practise your skills between classes.
Library Resources
If you are on your journey to learning Welsh, thinking about starting it, or you’re a Welsh speaker looking to polish your skills, the library has a wide-range of helpful resources.
Head to theCeltic Collection on Level F of the Hugh Owen Library where you’ll find books to help you practise and develop your reading and speaking skills – from graded novels with vocabulary to grammar books to complete language courses.
And remember to say su’mae and more to the Library staff! You can identify the ones who speak or are learning Welsh by their ‘Speak Welsh” lanyards or badges.
Studying and learning through the medium of Welsh
The wealth of AberSkills skills development resources are available in both English and Welsh. The librarians offer workshops in both languages also – workshops will be held in the language of their title on the listing page: https://www.aber.ac.uk/en/aberskills/skills-workshops/
And did you know? You can use most IS systems and services including Primo, LibGuides and Aspire Reading Lists in Welsh or English. Click on the language on the top right of the webpage or on the globe icon to switch between languages.
UMCA provides a voice and community for Welsh speaking students, learners and the curious! They also host Welsh-speaking events and cultural events, and give learners the opportunity to meet and practice their Welsh with Welsh speakers. Follow UMCA on social media to learn more.
These days, it feels like you can’t go a minute without someone bringing up AI. It’s as if it has always been part of our everyday lives! But believe it or not, it’s only been about 18 months since OpenAI’s ChatGPT burst onto the scene and really kicked off the AI revolution (or all the AI hype, depending on your point of view!)
Whichever term you prefer, AI isn’t going away anytime soon, so in the coming weeks we will explore some of the most popular generative AI tools. We’ll review some of their features, discuss their limitations, and provide a few quick tips on how to use them effectively.
As ChatGPT was the first generative AI tool to really capture the popular imagination, let’s take a closer look at what it can do, and how you can get the best out of it.
As the name suggests, ChatGPT (as with a number of the AI tools we’ll look at in this series) is designed for conversation. Its simple interface enables users to interact with an AI tool that has been trained on a vast amount of data. This training allows it to generate human-like responses to prompts (a prompt can be a question, statement, or command that guides the AI to generate a response.) For more on prompts, visit our AI Guide.
Here’s a closer look at what ChatGPT (and other AI tools) can do:
Answer Questions: ChatGPT can provide information and explanations on a variety of topics, making it a helpful resource for learning.
Generate Written Content: ChatGPT is excellent for overcoming writer’s block and for checking your writing for grammar, spelling, clarity, and style.
Summarise Information: It can take long texts and condense them into shorter summaries, helping you to grasp the main points quickly.
Translate Languages: ChatGPT can translate text from one language to another, making it easier for people to communicate and understand each other.
Engage in Conversations: The tool can simulate conversations, making it a fun way to practice language skills, prepare for a job interview, or simply have a friendly chat.
For further information on what AI tools like ChatGPT can do, visit our AI Guide.
Using ChatGPT can be useful (and fun!) but please do bear in mind there can be drawbacks to using it.
For example:
Misleading Information: ChatGPT can sometimes provide incorrect, out of date, or biased answers, which may affect the quality of your work or understanding.
An Over-Reliance on Technology: Relying too much on ChatGPT may hinder critical thinking and creativity, as users might depend on it for answers instead of developing their own ideas.
Plagiarism Risks: Students may use AI to generate content that is not their own, leading to plagiarism issues.
For further information on the drawbacks of using AI tools like ChatGPT, visit our AI Guide.
Top Tips for Using Chat GPT:
Be Clear and Specific: When you ask ChatGPT a question or give it a task, be as clear and detailed as possible. The more specific you are, the better the AI can understand what you need and provide a relevant response.
Start Simple: Begin with straightforward requests. If you have a complex question or task, break it down into smaller parts. This helps ChatGPT focus on one thing at a time, leading to better answers.
Use Follow-Up Questions: ChatGPT can maintain the context of a conversation so don’t hesitate to ask follow-up questions or give additional details after the initial response. This allows you to refine the conversation and get more accurate or tailored information.
For further information on the effective use of ChatGPT, visit our AI Guide.
A few caveats:
Aberystwyth University does not currently endorse any of these AI tools.
You must follow the guidelines on the use of AI issued by your department (where available)
In our next blog: we will look at prompt engineering, and we’ll share some valuable tips on how effective prompt design can improve the accuracy and relevance of AI outputs.
Are you looking for UK data about a particular industry?
We subscribe to a comprehensive resource called IBIS World. There are nearly 13,000 industry reports online, which are all easily searchable.
Each industry has its own report which is broken down into the following chapters;
At a glance
Performance
Products and Markets
Geographic Breakdown
Competitive Forces
Companies
External Environment
Financial Benchmarks
Whether you’re looking for the average wage for that industry or trying to find out the key markets. The information is presented in manageable sections and with clear downloadable graphics.
Example of a chart from IBIS World
There’s a useful ‘At a glance’ summary for each UK industry, providing a snapshot of the revenue, a SWOT analysis and a detailed Executive Summary.
IBIS World is available on and off campus 24/7 and the reports can be downloaded in full or by chapter. Don’t forget, if you use the IBIS world data in your assignments, to acknowledge this. Further help is available in our Referencing and Plagiarism Guide: https://libguides.aber.ac.uk/c.php?g=676952&p=5122582
