Let's Chat About Archaeology: Responsible and Thoughtful Use of AI Tools in the Classroom, A Case Study

Abstract

This paper discusses an introductory archaeology class assig-nment designed to promote responsible and thoughtful use of AI in the classroom. We asked the students to take on two roles: first, as academic wri-ters using AI tools, and second, as editors of writers’ work. Our assi-gnment encouraged students to think critically about how they frame their questions and how that framing influences the AI chatbot's res-ponses. It also prompted them to evaluate the responses that AI gives them and raise their awareness of the legitimacy of the information AI provides. The fact-checking component also served an additional aim for archaeologists, as the quick spread of conspiracy theories online only increases the urgency for students to be trained in identifying historical and archaeological misinformation.