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To help instructors set clear expectations for the use of artificial intelligence in coursework, the University of Missouri developed the Student AI Use Scale, a four-level framework that defines how AI may be incorporated into undergraduate assignments.
The scale provides a consistent approach for communicating the appropriate role of AI in academic work, ranging from assignments completed entirely by students to projects where AI plays a significant collaborative role.
- Level 0: Sole Author
Students complete all planning, research, drafting, and analysis independently. AI use is not permitted beyond standard tools such as spell-check, grammar-check, or other instructor-approved functions. - Level 1: Primary Author
Students generate all ideas and content themselves, while AI may be used for support tasks such as organization, formatting, proofreading, or limited research assistance. - Level 2: Collaborating Author
Students work collaboratively with AI, using it to assist with drafting and content generation while maintaining active oversight and critical evaluation of the output. - Level 3: Supervising Author
AI may be used extensively to support complex creation or problem-solving tasks. Students remain responsible for the final product, ensuring its accuracy, originality, and ethical use.
The framework offers instructors a practical way to communicate expectations and helps students better understand their responsibilities when using AI in academic work.
Watch the video below to learn more: