Generative AI Policy

Journal of Teaching and Learning recognizes the increasing use of Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Large Language Models (LLMs) in academic research and scholarly publishing. The journal permits the responsible use of AI tools while maintaining the principles of academic integrity, transparency, originality, accountability, confidentiality, and research ethics.

The policy is developed with reference to the recommendations of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) and the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE) regarding the responsible use of artificial intelligence in scholarly publishing.

1. Responsible Use of Generative AI

Authors may use Generative AI tools for legitimate supporting purposes, including:

  • language editing and grammatical improvement;
  • translation and language refinement;
  • improving clarity and readability;
  • brainstorming and development of research ideas;
  • assistance with coding or technical processes; and
  • other limited research-support activities.

The use of AI must not replace the authors' intellectual contribution, scholarly judgment, or responsibility for the research.

2. Disclosure of AI Use

Authors are required to disclose the use of Generative AI when an AI tool has made a substantial contribution to manuscript preparation, data analysis, content generation, coding, or the creation or modification of figures.

The disclosure should identify the AI tool and describe its purpose.

A suitable disclosure statement is:

Generative AI Disclosure: During the preparation of this manuscript, the authors used [name of AI tool] for [describe the purpose of use]. The authors reviewed, verified, and revised all AI-assisted content and take full responsibility for the final content of the manuscript.

3. AI Cannot Be an Author

Generative AI tools, including ChatGPT and other AI systems, cannot be listed as authors or co-authors of manuscripts published in Journal of Teaching and Learning.

Authorship requires human responsibility for the research, originality, accuracy, integrity, and final approval of the manuscript.

4. Accuracy and Verification

Authors remain fully responsible for all content generated or assisted by AI. AI-generated content must be carefully checked for:

  • factual accuracy;
  • fabricated or inaccurate references;
  • unsupported claims;
  • inappropriate quotations;
  • bias or misleading information; and
  • plagiarism or inappropriate text reuse.

Authors must verify all references and ensure that cited sources genuinely support the statements made in the manuscript.

5. Originality and Academic Integrity

The use of Generative AI does not exempt authors from the journal's requirements concerning originality and plagiarism. Authors must ensure that AI-assisted writing does not constitute plagiarism, copyright infringement, duplicate publication, or other forms of academic misconduct.

All manuscripts remain subject to the journal's Plagiarism Screening Policy.

6. Confidentiality

Authors, reviewers, and editors must protect the confidentiality of unpublished manuscripts and research materials.

Reviewers and editors must not upload confidential manuscripts, peer-review materials, personal data, or other unpublished information to public Generative AI tools where confidentiality cannot be guaranteed.

7. Use of AI by Reviewers

Reviewers may not use Generative AI to replace their independent scholarly assessment. If AI assistance is permitted or used in a limited capacity, reviewers remain fully responsible for the confidentiality, accuracy, and content of their review.

8. Use of AI by Editors

Editors may use appropriate AI-based tools for limited administrative or language-support purposes, provided that manuscript confidentiality, author information, reviewer information, and editorial independence are protected.

Editorial decisions must remain the responsibility of the Editor-in-Chief and editorial team and must not be delegated to an AI system.

9. Editorial Action

Failure to disclose substantial AI use, fabrication of information using AI, plagiarism, manipulation of references, or other inappropriate use of Generative AI may result in editorial action.

Depending on the severity of the case, the journal may request clarification or revision, reject the manuscript, issue a correction, or initiate a retraction process for published articles in accordance with the journal's publication ethics policy and relevant COPE guidelines on artificial intelligence.

10. Policy Statement

Journal of Teaching and Learning supports the responsible adoption of emerging technologies in scholarly communication. Generative AI may serve as a supporting tool, but it cannot replace human authorship, critical thinking, scholarly judgment, research responsibility, or editorial decision-making.