This guide uses resources and language from the University of Arizona Libraries' "Student Guide to ChatGPT," licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Image created by Google's Gemini, 2.5 Flash, from the prompt "Create an image of Hood College in Frederick, MD," July 23, 2025.
Always check with your instructor before using generative AI for any portion of a course assignment. Some courses may allow the limited use of generative AI; in others, the use of AI may be considered a violation of the Honor Code. No matter what, any time you use generative AI for an assignment, you must acknowledge and cite it. See the tab on Citing Generative AI Usage for more information on how to cite AI in a variety of styles.
You also need to verify any information generated by an AI tool using a credible outside source.
These tutorials from the University of Arizona walk you through the basics of using generative AI, specifically ChatGPT. They contain short videos (3 min or less), and quiz questions for self-review of what you learned.
Understand the basics of how the technology works. This will help you know what it's useful for and give you background for understanding the ethical debates.
Explore guardrails, bias, and hallucination.
Generative AI is very different from other types of AI. How to tell the difference and why that's important.
Learn how to use ChatGPT and other generative AI tools effectively for your academic work.
Learn the basics of multimedia generation, including tools, outputs, and ethical issues.