📓 1.0.0.13 Using AI Responsibly at Fidgetech
AI tools are part of modern software development. At Fidgetech, we teach you to use them thoughtfully — not to avoid them, and not to trust them blindly. This lesson introduces Fidgetech's approach to responsible AI use during pre-work and throughout the program.
AI supports learning. It does not replace thinking.
Our Approach to AI​
One of the goals of this program is to help you develop an intentional, informed relationship with AI. You will encounter a range of attitudes toward AI in school and in the workplace. This framework helps you locate yourself and understand what growth looks like.
The goal is not to use AI as much as possible or as little as possible. The goal is to use it well.
The Three AI Stances​
| Stance | What it looks like | The risk |
|---|---|---|
| Avoidance | Refuses to use AI or is afraid to try it | Misses legitimate professional tools and workflows |
| Over-reliance | Uses AI for everything without evaluating output | Submits code they can't explain, defend, or debug |
| Informed use | Uses AI intentionally, with guardrails and reflection | The goal — what this program teaches! |
The Code Program aims to move every student toward informed use, regardless of where you start. If you are skeptical of AI, you will learn that it has real professional value when used well. If you are enthusiastic about AI, you will learn that speed without understanding creates risk.
AI as a Learning Coach​
AI is a learning coach, not a coding tool. You are building habits that will serve you throughout the program.
Core message: AI can help you think through the problem, but it should not do the thinking for you.
What AI Is For​
You can use AI to:
- Explain confusing instructions
- Clarify unfamiliar vocabulary
- Understand setup or command line errors
- Ask for plain-language explanations
- Break a problem into one small next step
- Prepare better questions before asking an instructor
What AI Is Not For​
You should not use AI to:
- Generate full assignment solutions
- Ask AI to "fix my code" without understanding the issue
- Replace instructor support, peer collaboration, or debugging practice
Core expectation: You are responsible for every line of code you submit, regardless of whether AI helped you understand, debug, or improve it.
Transferable AI Collaboration Skills​
AI tools will change over time. The deeper goal is to build durable skills that apply across tools and workplaces. Throughout the program, you will practice how to:
- Ask clear, specific questions
- Provide useful context and constraints
- Evaluate AI responses critically
- Check suggestions against project requirements
- Explain code and decisions in your own words
- Use AI to understand rather than copy
- Identify when AI is likely to be wrong or incomplete
- Know when to stop using AI and ask a human
- Reflect on what AI helped with and what you still had to decide
For guidance on writing effective prompts, see How to Ask for Help.
When to Use AI vs Instructors vs Peers​
Fidgetech's instructional values include productive struggle, instructor-first support, peer collaboration, and real-world employability. Use this guide to decide where to turn first:
| Situation | Best first step |
|---|---|
| Confusing lesson instructions or unfamiliar vocabulary | AI for plain-language explanation, then re-read the lesson |
| Setup or command line error after trying the lesson steps | AI to interpret the error; instructor if still blocked |
| Concept doesn't click after re-reading and research | Instructor or pair — they know the curriculum context |
| Stuck on a lesson exercise after genuine effort | AI for hints or explanations (not full solutions), then instructor |
| During pair programming | Your pair — work through problems together, not AI in the background |
| Independent project | Your own work only — see Academic Honesty |
Instructor-first support means instructors are your best resource when you need context-specific help, feedback on your approach, or support navigating the curriculum. Peer collaboration builds communication skills that matter as much as coding skills in the job search. AI supports both — it helps you arrive prepared, not replace the conversation.
Activity 1: Three AI Stances Self-Assessment​
When: Before you use AI for the first time in this program
Time: 10–15 minutes
Format: Individual reflection, optional group discussion
Before you begin using AI tools, locate yourself honestly in relation to AI. This activity surfaces existing attitudes and gives you a non-judgmental framework for understanding what growth looks like.
Reflection prompts:
- Which of these three stances feels most like you right now?
- Where does that attitude come from — a past experience, something you've heard, or something you've observed?
- What would it look like for you to move toward informed use by the end of this program?
There are no wrong answers here. The goal is honest self-awareness, not the right response. Students who identify as avoidant and students who identify as over-reliant are both starting from a useful place — this activity just makes it visible.
Activity 2: Do You Have the License for This?​
When: Introduced in pre-work; used throughout the program
Time: 5 minutes
Format: Instructor-led check-in or student self-assessment
Before you use AI for a task, pause and ask yourself: Do I have the license for this yet? This means: do I understand enough about what I'm asking AI to help with to evaluate its response, catch its mistakes, and take responsibility for the output?
| Question | If yes | If no |
|---|---|---|
| Can I explain what this code is supposed to do? | Proceed with AI | Try to articulate it first, even roughly |
| Can I describe what's going wrong or confusing? | Proceed with AI | Write down what you do know before asking |
| Will I be able to tell if the AI's response is helpful or wrong? | Proceed with AI | Ask an instructor or peer first |
Over time, the goal is to internalize this question and apply it without prompting. Your instructors may use this check-in before debugging sessions, pair programming, or any moment where you might reflexively reach for AI.
What's Next​
You now have the foundation for using AI responsibly at Fidgetech. As you continue through the program:
- Review How to Ask for Help for strong vs. weak prompt examples
- Read Independent Projects and Code Reviews for how AI rules apply to graded work
- Read Academic Honesty for the full policy on AI use and consequences