Empowering Students, Not Punishing Them – AI Use in Student Work: A Learning Opportunity

aarmau@gmail.comApril 26, 2024Uncategorized

Navigating AI in Student Work: A Learning Opportunity

Currently in education, we are navigating what I call the ‘messy middle,’ a transitional space where traditional educational practices are being reexamined in the light of the world of artificial intelligence. This chapter explores how we can approach suspected instances of AI usage in student assignments, not through a punitive lens, but as a valuable teaching moment that enhances learning and integrity in our classrooms.

It might seem as though ‘everyone’ is cheating, but this perception does not reflect reality. Studies indicate that cheating rates are not increasing. Those inclined to cheat will do so regardless of AI or other emerging technologies, while those who are not will not start simply because such tools are available.

Establishing AI Usage Guidelines

Before any assignments or assessments are given, it’s crucial for educators to establish clear guidelines on the appropriate use of AI in the classroom. This could include using a simple ‘traffic light’ system:

  1. Red Light: Define activities or tasks where AI usage is strictly prohibited, such as summative assessments or exams.
  2. Yellow Light: Outline scenarios where AI can be used as a tool to aid learning, but with specific guidelines on how to properly cite and acknowledge the AI’s contributions.
  3. Green Light: Identify opportunities where AI can be actively encouraged and integrated into the learning process, such as brainstorming, research, or content generation, with the expectation that students will reflect on and demonstrate their understanding.

And as you think about creating a policy for your classroom, school, and/or district these flowcharts are helpful to think through the various elements to process

Fostering Meaningful Dialogue

When a student is suspected of using AI inappropriately, the focus should shift from punitive measures to constructive dialogue. I firmly believe this should be a positive, proactive learning situation. While it feels urgent, it is more of a cue that perhaps our instructional practices, assignments, and use of class time might need to be shifted to adapt to current realities.

Here are some ideas to consider for the conversation with the student.

  1. Understand the Student’s Perspective: Engage the student in a discussion about their thought process and the rationale behind their AI usage. This can provide valuable insights into their learning journey and any gaps in their understanding. AND can help you think about how you handle and adjust future scenarios as the professional. We need to be learners alongside the students.
  2. Emphasize Learning Over Punishment: Avoid immediately jumping to accusations of academic dishonesty. Instead, use this as an opportunity to reinforce the importance of ethical AI usage and guide the student towards a better understanding of the learning objectives. If we move to accusations and punishments, we risk the move from a cheating issue to a trust issue and when trust is violated, learning at high levels are at risk because it is no longer safe to push the boundaries of learning.
  3. Explore Reflective Assignments: Consider offering the student a chance to write a reflection piece, explaining how they used AI and what they learned in the process. This can help them demonstrate their understanding and growth…and you. Perhaps this is part of your classroom policy that if students choose to use AI they must explain their process or share their workflow with the tools. Now, I know we don’t do this for all the other platforms and tech options, but it could be a bridge to learn more about education structures in general as we figure out what to do.
    • Ask them to share their conversation with AI if they have the option.
    • Ask to see how they continue to chat with AI to arrive at an answer.
    • Learn more about why they used AI. Where are the glitches in the learning that moved a student to use AI to do the task.? And be ready for real answers that might challenge our instructional practices. It is more than kids being lazy. Lazy is an easy label to slap on a child instead of digging to find the real source of friction.

Being proactive with dialogue, educators can transform a potentially negative situation into a positive learning experience for the student and adults.

Empowering Students through Instruction and Support

Incorporating instruction on the ethical use of AI is now essential. It involves teaching about the responsible use of research tools, digital citizenship, and managing the wealth of information available. It’s not dissimilar to the onset of the internet and platforms such as Wikipedia and YouTube, where we once faced similar challenges.

Consider:

  1. Instruction on Ethical AI Usage: Incorporate lessons on the responsible and ethical use of AI, covering topics such as citation, attribution, and the importance of demonstrating one’s own understanding.
  2. Scaffolding and Feedback: Provide students with opportunities for check-in points, small group work, and one-on-one meetings to ensure they are developing their own ideas and understanding, rather than solely relying on AI. The use of class time is vital for the human element of learning. What is the process being strategically built into the learning experience that regardless of AI use or not the teacher understands how students are coming along in the learning journey. Mindset shift of process over product. By the time we receive the final piece of work from a student we should already know if they have the content, skills, and standards mastered or not. It should not come as a surprise to us at the end if we have done our job.
  3. Collaborative Approach: Encourage students to engage in peer-to-peer learning and discussions about the appropriate use of AI, fostering a culture of shared responsibility and accountability.

By taking a proactive and collaborative approach, educators can help students navigate the this fast-moving landscape of AI in education and develop the critical thinking and problem-solving skills necessary for success.

Moving Beyond Detection: A Positive Approach

Educators have much on their plates; finding AI detection tools for catching students cheating should not be the priority. I am a hesitant to offer AI detection tools as all the research that continues to come out shows these tools are not accurate, have bias against non-native English speakers, students with learning disabilities, and many more inequalities not to mention these should not be needed if we use class time more efficiently and rethink homework. Stefan Bauschard commented on a recent LinkedIn thread that no one would pay a speeding ticket if the police officer said there was a 68% chance they were speeding. Instead of seeking tools for punishment, we should use these situations as learning opportunities for both educators and students.

Here are some questions to guide a productive dialogue:

  • Did the student discuss their AI usage and thought process with the teacher? Can they explain how the tool aided their learning? Most importantly, can they demonstrate their understanding of the subject matter?
  • Were students taught how to cite AI tools? Could using AI be integrated into the assignment with a reflection piece exploring the learning journey facilitated by the tool?
  • Can the teacher provide evidence of the student’s work leading up to the final submission? Drafts, group work, and one-on-one meetings can reveal discrepancies between the process and the final product.

 

Shifting Focus: Process Over Product

The integration of AI in education demands a shift from product to process in our assessments. This might mean rethinking how we evaluate learning, an effort that is necessary despite its challenges, as we steer through this evolving educational landscape.

Conclusion

Addressing AI in education is less about penalization and more about empowerment. Establishing clear guidelines, engaging in meaningful dialogue, and providing instructional support are all crucial steps. As educators, we must cultivate an environment where students are encouraged to use AI as a tool for learning, growth, and ethical scholarly practice. We don’t need to have all the answers now, but with patience and grace, we can guide our students through the complexities of AI in learning.

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