Evaluation Rubric
Whether you are using a GenAI tool embedded in software you already use or one you have discovered through separate sources, you should understand fundamental information about the ownership, policies, training data, user protections, and safety of the GenAI tool before using, downloading, or creating an account.
The rubric and checklist below help you think through the various aspects of a GenAI tool allowing you to make an informed choice about the tool that you choose to use.
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AI Tool Evaluation Rubric for StudentsThis rubric is intended to help you evaluate the characteristics of an AI tool and whether those elements favor use or raise concerns that should be further investigated.
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AI Tool Checklist for StudentsThis checklist is a summarized version of the AI evaluation rubric that offers a more condensed interface.
Is it safe to use AI?
Professors at NSU may set their own GenAI use guidelines. Check your course syllabus for your instructor’s policy, and contact them if it's not mentioned. Talk with your instructor before you begin your assignment to avoid needing to start over if GenAI isn't allowed.
Ask your instructor:
- What level of GenAI use is accepted in this class?
- Can you provide examples of what is allowed and what isn’t?
- How do we acknowledge (cite) the use of these tools?
AI technology changes quickly but the fundamentals of AI literacy stay the same.
This flow chart is to help you think about your use of GenAI before you get started. The two most important ideas are:
- Do you have the expertise to verify the output is accurate? That is, have you learned enough about the topic to know if the GenAI tool is generating hallucinations or are you willing to verify what has been generated?
- Are you knowledgeable enough to understand what the GenAI tool has produced and if it accurately reflects what you have asked about?
- Are you willing AND able to take full responsibility for inaccuracies?
Citing AI
Each citation style has different requirements for when and how to cite AI use. Some require you to include the full chat conversation held with a GenAI tool. Others only have you mention it in a note. Below are links to three of the most used citation styles and their requirements for acknowledging AI use. For other styles, check out our How to Cite Sources in Your Research Paper guide.
Learn More
One thing we’ll know for sure is you’re going to have to continually learn ... throughout your career.
-Demis Hassabis, CEO of DeepMind, All-In Summit, September 12, 2025
AI literacy builds on two essential foundations: information literacy and digital literacy. Information literacy equips you to question, evaluate, and verify the accuracy of AI-generated content. Digital literacy provides the skills to navigate and control AI-powered tools responsibly, protecting privacy and ensuring effective use. Together, these literacies help you adapt to GenAI in academia and the workplace, engage critically with AI-influenced news and politics, and use GenAI tools safely in daily life. Information and digital literacy are the cornerstones of AI literacy, allowing you to remain adaptable, informed, and in control as technology evolves.
Information literacy is a set of abilities requiring individuals to 'recognize when information is needed and have the ability to locate, evaluate, and use effectively the needed information. To be information literate, then, one needs skills not only in research but in critical thinking.
-American Library Association. Presidential Committee on Information Literacy.
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Information Literacy CourseVideo, 2025 by Timothy John Walker.
In this course, you'll start by learning how media bias works, the importance of a balanced media diet, and practical methods for cross-checking facts. You'll understand how algorithms influence what you see and believe and gain tools to protect yourself from misinformation. As you progress, the course dives deeper into media literacy skills, introducing advanced techniques to recognize bias and consumption patterns. You'll explore different types of media, develop strategies to enrich your media diet, and learn how to critically assess any information that comes your way. Each section of the course is designed to provide actionable insights, from understanding the impact of algorithms to protecting your mental space from harmful media influence. - from publisher
At its core, digital literacy is about being able to navigate and thrive in a world where technology is increasingly integral to everyday life. It’s about being able to effectively use digital tools and platforms to achieve personal and professional goals while also understanding the potential risks and challenges that come with living in a digital world.
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Digital Literacy Framework ToolkitThis toolkit, created by Julia Feerrar & Kelsey Hammer, is intended to help you put the digital literacy framework from the University Libraries at Virginia Tech into action. Use this toolkit to align your work with digital literacy learning outcomes, get inspired when revising or creating a workshop, curriculum, program, or other learning experience, and learn more about the digital literacy framework. The toolkit was published 20 March 2020 and updated 10 June 2025. CC-BY
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Microsoft Digital Literacy Courses & ResourcesMicrosoft Digital Literacy is for anyone with basic reading skills who wants to learn the fundamentals of using digital technologies.
AI literacy is the ability to recognize, use, and evaluate AI technologies. Developing literacy with a tool means becoming a more skilled and thoughtful user of that tool.
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Artificial Intelligence All-In-One for Dummies
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Call Number: eBookISBN: 9781394341726Publication Date: 2025Artificial intelligence is everywhere. Major software organizations like Microsoft, Google, and Apple have built AI directly into products and invited the world to become part of the AI revolution. And it's impossible to use these tools to their fullest potential without understanding the basics of what AI is and what it can do. Artificial Intelligence All-in-One For Dummies provides an easy-to-follow walkthrough for anyone interested in learning how to use AI. You'll learn how to put artificial intelligence to work for you and your company in a wide variety of situations, from creating office assistants to managing projects and marketing your products. Inside the book: How to prompt AI platforms like ChatGPT and Copilot while avoiding "hallucinations" and other bugs Strategies for adding artificial intelligence tools to your company's existing workflows to improve efficiency and generate new opportunities Techniques to improve your programming capabilities with AI or create new AI-powered tools Perfect for professionals curious about the potential and pitfalls associated with generative artificial intelligence, Artificial Intelligence All-in-One For Dummies shows you exactly how AI works and how you can apply it in your own professional and personal life. - from publisher
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The MLA Student Guide to AI LiteracyThe Modern Language Association and Conference on College Composition and Communication created this guide to assist students in becoming educated users of GenAI tools.
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Why AI Literacy is Now a Core Competency in EducationFrom the World Economic Forum, published May 22, 2025 and updated June 3, 2025. The World Economic Forum’s Future of Jobs Report 2025 outlines that AI is expected to disrupt nearly every industry, shifting the skillsets required across global labor markets. AI's most significant influence lies in how we access, process and apply information, fundamentally redefining education and the way we acquire knowledge.
Tutorials created by NSU librarians:
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Ask the Post AICompare summaries generated by the Washington Post's integrated AI tool to the full articles.
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Reel ResearchPractice using an AI chatbot with your expert knowledge of your favorite movie.
Prompt Engineering
When using GenAI, the prompt you use when seeking a response can significantly affect how accurate and well sourced your answer is. Designing a good prompt can help you set the structure and tone of the response generated. Below are a few methods that can help generate precise and consistent results.
- Prompt Design Framework from Sarah Harman-Caverly
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Learn about Copilot promptsLearn about prompting Copilot from its creator, Microsoft.
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Prompt Engineering GuideA comprehensive prompt design guide on various generative AI tools and prompt engineering
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Prompt engineering for generative AI : future-proof inputs for reliable AI outputs at scale
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Call Number: eBookISBN: 9781098153397Publication Date: 2024This books shows you how a set of principles called prompt engineering can enable you to work effectively with AI. There are chapters on ChatGPT, LangChain, FAISS, Pinecone, Midjourney, and Stable Disffusion. You'll gain a solid foundation in generative AI, including how to apply these models in practice.
