Generative AI has changed the landscape of research assignments. Instead of removing research assignments from your course, think about restructuring them around specific skills and focusing on the process of research rather than on the resulting product.

Reading, Evaluation & Synthesis

• Model appropriate scholarly reading in class.
• Turn text annotations into a grade using the Readings & Resources' Read and Respond Assignment in Canvas.
• Create in-class activities that help students practice identifying the main idea of a text.
• Give students practice on identifying what a portion of the reading says and what it does for the piece as a whole.
• Use class readings to model synthesizing sources for a thesis.
• Consider using more obscure texts for students to read and use in research.
• As part of written work, require digital copies of source material with cited portions highlighted.

Ideation

• Develop in-class exercises that encourage students to use traditional forms of background information like encyclopedias.
• Have students explain their thinking or their ideation process through documentation.
• Consider using low-tech activities (like concept mapping) or high-tech activities (like infographics) to demonstrate knowledge.

Search

• Invite a librarian in to instruct students on how to think about information.
• Create in-class activities that support students identifying what a source is and what type of information is contains.

Alternate Assignments Ideas

• Incorporate in-class writing or oral assignments.
• Require the use of class materials such as notes, lectures, and lessons.
• Require permalinks to library resources in citations.
• Consider using more obscure texts for students to read and use in research.
• Use field observations in research.
• Have students explain their thinking or their research process through document comments. 
• Require the use of direct quotes from cited materials.
• Require annotated copies of sources to be submitted with research assignments.
• Require students to conduct interviews for an assignment and to incorporate those transcripts into course writing.