← VCE Software Development U3O1

Acknowledging AI use and licensing of generated code

A comment that acknowledges AI helped write the code. Name the tool and prompt, and check the output is not copied licensed work. You stay responsible for the final code.

Part of: VCE Software Development - U3O1 - Programming — Module 191, VCE Software Development - U4O1 - development and evaluation — Module 135

Understanding Acknowledging AI use and licensing of generated code in VCE Software Development U3O1

What it does: A comment naming the tool and your review makes the AI use visible and shows you remain responsible for the final code. School and VCAA authentication rules expect you to be open about the tools you used so your own work can be confirmed as authentic. AI tools learn from existing code. Their output can sometimes match licensed work, so you need to check it before using it. You choose to include the code, so you must understand it, test it and take responsibility for it, whatever tool produced it. A good acknowledgement names the tool and the prompt. A vague comment does not show what was used or how.

Common mistakes: Generated code can copy licensed work, so you must check the licence. The line should say the check was done, for example '# Licence checked: yes'. The acknowledgement must be a comment. Without the # at the start Python tries to run it and gives a syntax error. It should be '# AI-generated: Copilot'.

Class: _____________________  ·  Name: _____________________  ·  Date: _________

Free printable worksheet with full answer key — or add this module to a class and your students practise it interactively.

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This module's key terms are also in a printable crossword (Modules 178–193) and word search (Modules 168–193).

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Learning
Duo
Which comment correctly acknowledges that AI helped write a function?
# Written entirely by me# AI-generated: ChatGPT, prompt: 'write a function to average marks'
Matches
def total(a, b): return a + b # written by me
↓
The student says they wrote this themselves when it was generated by AI. AI help must be acknowledged, for example # AI-generated: ChatGPT.
Applying
Meanings
Term
# AI-generated: ChatGPT
Meaning
A comment that acknowledges AI helped write the code. Name the tool and prompt, and check the output is not copied licensed work. You stay responsible for the final code.
Practice
def average(marks):
Testing
Gaps
AI-generated: ChatGPT
Check Answer
Spots
2# Prompt: sort a list of marks
3# Licence checked: not needed

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Quick Questions

1. Which comment correctly acknowledges that AI helped write a function?
A. # Written entirely by me
B. # AI-generated: ChatGPT, prompt: 'write a function to average marks' ✓
Acknowledging AI use means naming the tool and, ideally, the prompt in a comment so your teacher and others can see where the code came from.
2. You used an AI tool to generate part of your SAC solution. What should you do?
A. Say nothing because the code works
B. Say that AI helped, following your school and VCAA authentication rules ✓
School and VCAA authentication rules expect you to be open about the tools you used so your own work can be confirmed as authentic.
3. Why can AI-generated code be a copyright or licensing risk?
A. It may closely copy code that is covered by a licence ✓
B. AI code is always free of any licence
AI tools learn from existing code. Their output can sometimes match licensed work, so you need to check it before using it.
4. Who is responsible for the final code in your submitted program, including the parts AI wrote?
A. You are ✓
B. The AI tool is
You choose to include the code, so you must understand it, test it and take responsibility for it, whatever tool produced it.
5. Which acknowledgement is more useful?
A. # AI-generated: Copilot, prompt: 'validate an age between 0 and 120' ✓
B. # Got some help from a tool
A good acknowledgement names the tool and the prompt. A vague comment does not show what was used or how.

Match the Pairs

# AI-generated: ChatGPT, prompt: sort a list → A comment that acknowledges AI helped write the code, naming the tool and the prompt used
# Source: MIT licence, checked by Sam → A comment recording the licence of reused code and that the student checked it before using it
Acknowledge the AI tool in the code so a teacher or VCAA assessor can see which part it helped write → # AI-generated: Copilot, reviewed by me
Record the prompt you gave the AI tool so your use of it can be authenticated → # Prompt: write a function to average marks
def total(a, b): return a + b # written by me → The student says they wrote this themselves when it was generated by AI. AI help must be acknowledged, for example # AI-generated: ChatGPT.
# AI wrote it, so it is safe to use import shop_code → The student assumes AI output is safe and free to use. They must check it does not copy licensed work and they remain responsible for the final code.

Key Term

# AI-generated: ChatGPT
A comment that acknowledges AI helped write the code. Name the tool and prompt, and check the output is not copied licensed work. You stay responsible for the final code.

Fill in the Blanks

1. # AI-generated: ChatGPT
Hint: Type the symbol that starts a Python comment.
2. # AI-generated: ChatGPT
Hint: Type the label that says AI helped write this code.
3. # AI-generated: ChatGPT # Prompt: sort a list of marks
Hint: Type the label for the instruction you gave the AI tool.
4. # Checked: not copied from licensed work
Hint: Type the word for work whose owner sets rules about how others may reuse it.
5. # I am responsible for the final code
Hint: Type the word that describes who is accountable for the code, even if AI wrote it.

Spot the Error

Question 1
A # AI-generated: ChatGPT
B # Prompt: sort a list of marks
C # Licence checked: not needed
D marks = [72, 88, 65]
E marks.sort()
Line C — Generated code can copy licensed work, so you must check the licence. The line should say the check was done, for example '# Licence checked: yes'.
Question 2
A AI-generated: Copilot
B # Prompt: write grade()
C def grade(mark):
D return mark >= 50
Line A — The acknowledgement must be a comment. Without the # at the start Python tries to run it and gives a syntax error. It should be '# AI-generated: Copilot'.
Question 3
A # AI-generated: ChatGPT
B # I wrote all of this myself
C def check(pw):
D return len(pw) >= 8
Line B — This contradicts line 1. An acknowledgement should record the prompt that was used, for example '# Prompt: make a login check', not claim the work is all your own.
Question 4
A # AI-generated: Gemini
B # Prompt: area of a circle
C # Gemini is responsible for it
D def area(r):
E return 3.14 * r * r
Line C — You stay responsible for the final code, even when AI helped write it. The comment should say that you checked and tested it, for example '# Checked and tested by me'.
Question 5
A # AI-generated: ChatGPT
B # Prompt: double a number
C def double(n):
D return n + 2
Line D — The prompt asked for a function that doubles a number, but n + 2 does not do that. You are responsible for checking AI code matches the requirement. It should be 'return n * 2'.

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