Responsible and Appropriate use of AI in postgraduate nursing courses (New Zealand). An eLearning example

Abstract

This Artifact / Snippet (https://jexed-games.itch.io/responsible-use-of-ai-in-nursing) presents an interactive eLearning resource, Responsible and Appropriate Use of Artificial Intelligence in Postgraduate Nursing Courses (New Zealand). Developed as a free learning resource for postgraduate nursing students, the eLearning addresses a pressing need in higher education and professional preparation: guiding students to engage with artificial intelligence in ways that are ethical, transparent, academically honest, and professionally safe. While the background context is postgraduate nursing education in New Zealand, the underpinning principles are transferable across disciplines, institutions, and international higher education settings.

The resource was created to move beyond static policy statements and instead translate abstract principles into an applied, student-facing learning experience. It demonstrates how a theoretical topic such as responsible artificial intelligence use can be converted into an interactive and personalized eLearning journey that supports individual decision-making. Learners are guided through core topics including transparency and attribution; academic integrity and boundaries around acceptable and unacceptable use; privacy and data protection; bias, fairness, and cultural safety; reliability, verification, and accountability; and intellectual property and licensing. The eLearning concludes with consolidation activities, including a wrap-up and final quiz, with additional gamified extension opportunities to reinforce engagement.

A central design feature is personalization. The learner is addressed directly and invited to progress through modular topics in a guided sequence while still being able to revisit content in a self-directed manner. This structure reflects adult learning principles and supports postgraduate learners who bring varied professional experience, confidence with digital tools, and prior exposure to artificial intelligence. The resource therefore does not treat students as passive recipients of rules; instead, it encourages critical reflection, contextual judgement, and the development of practical reasoning about when and how artificial intelligence may or may not be appropriate in learning tasks and coursework.

The pedagogical intent is not only to protect academic standards, but also to strengthen habits of professional judgement that are essential in nursing (and many other professions). In a field where ethical responsibility, evidence-informed practice, documentation, privacy, and culturally safe care are foundational, students need to understand that artificial intelligence outputs cannot be accepted uncritically. The eLearning therefore positions artificial intelligence as a tool that may support learning, but never replace disciplinary thinking, human accountability, or professional responsibility. Particular attention is given to issues highly relevant in health and higher education contexts, including confidentiality, verification of information, bias in outputs, and responsible acknowledgement of tool use.

This Snippet offers the eLearning as an example of how educators can transform a contemporary and potentially contentious topic into an accessible, engaging, and pedagogically sound digital resource. It illustrates how learning design can bridge policy, ethics, and practice by making expectations visible and actionable for students. Although situated within postgraduate nursing education in New Zealand, the framework is intentionally broad enough to inform academic development initiatives across higher education. The resource may therefore be useful to educators, instructional designers, and institutions seeking practical ways to support responsible artificial intelligence use while preserving academic integrity, critical thinking, and learner agency.

URL to eLearning: https://jexed-games.itch.io/responsible-use-of-ai-in-nursing