Students can use ChatGPT without cheating; here’s how.
Cheating among students has always been a problem, and it continues to be a concern as education evolves. With the rise of AI technology, the way cheating happens is also changing.
Many schools use one-to-one technology, so students will likely use generative AI tools for schoolwork.
So, how can we make sure our students use AI without cheating? Is that even possible?
I argue yes; let’s examine why and how.
What is cheating in the age of ChatGPT?
Cheating is usually seen as copying answers, sharing information during exams, or plagiarizing from the internet. But the rise of AI-powered tools has muddied the waters.
I've talked with colleagues, teachers, and my teenager about using AI to cheat in school. Here's some of what we discussed:
Is asking ChatGPT to write a paper, then turning it in unedited, cheating?
Absolutely. Everyone agrees on this.
Is it cheating to ask generative AI to explain the steps to a math problem you got wrong?
In most cases, no—but some educators have varying feelings.
Is prompting ChatGPT to summarize a novel you were supposed to read for class cheating?
That’s a tricky one…
There’s no doubt that AI tools like ChatGPT and Google Bard can be used to cheat, but they can also be used to transform learning. Generative AI can help students understand complex concepts, brainstorm ideas, boost creativity and critical thinking, and receive guidance—all while upholding high standards for academic integrity.
Let’s dig deeper.
Generative AI as a muse to unlock inner creativity
Concerns about academic honesty are significant. It is also crucial to recognize that numerous AI programs can provide valuable creative inspiration.
Take, for example, Google’s new TextFX. TextFX is a "set of tools for rappers, writers, and wordsmiths." It uses AI to help with similes, explore topics from different perspectives, create sensory details for scenes, and more.
Imagine a student facing writer’s block on a creative writing assignment. With the click of a button, AI like TextFX can offer suggestions that help students explore new angles and tickle ideas in their brains. It serves as a virtual brainstorming companion, encouraging creativity and pushing the boundaries of imagination.
In this screenshot, TextFX gives a list of sensory details about the writing prompt, “Traveling to outer space.” It includes prompts such as, “The taste of freeze-dried space food,” and “The smell of ozone, a sharp and acrid odor.”
Students can use these prompts as a starting point to add more imaginative details to bring their story to life.
TextFX is an AI tool that can help students view AI-generated content as a starting point for their creativity. It sparks their creative fire.
Using AI for academic purposes is not cheating. It is using AI as a partner to help students come up with new ideas and solutions.
ChatGPT can enhance critical thinking capabilities
Beyond helping students discover their inner creativity, AI can be a valuable catalyst for fostering critical thinking.
For example, a student can submit their writing to ChatGPT. They can ask it to check for grammar, structure, and clarity in their arguments and expression.
Using AI for these purposes is similar to peer or teacher review. As students use the feedback, they’re actively participating in viewing their work with a critical eye. Self-assessment, in this way, plays a crucial role in developing critical thinking skills.
Generative AI can take a simple idea and make it more detailed and easier to understand. This encourages students to think deeply about the core principles and related concepts and consider perspectives outside their own.
I recently went to ChatGPT with a topic that was often heavily discussed in the high school social studies classes I co-taught. I pretended to be a student curious about the Treaty of Versailles and its impact after World War I. I wanted to learn more about it. Here's what happened:
In the screenshot, ChatGPT discussed the negative impacts of the Treaty of Versailles on Germany's military, economy, and land. These effects were new to me.
These are just a few of the 12 examples it provided. Students should be encouraged to research and fact-check. We all know AI can get it wrong, sometimes!
If students use this type of support and adhere to ethical standards that prohibit plagiarism, they won't be caught up in the “Is ChatGPT cheating?” trap.
Similarly, ChatGPT and other AI chatbots can engage students in simulated conversations or debates. This allows them to practice constructing arguments, anticipating counterarguments, and refining their communication skills. In world language classrooms, ChatGPT can personalize conversation practice and so much more.
Generative AI as a brainstorming and organization companion
Another handy, yet ethical, use for AI chatbots in the classroom? They’re great at assisting students when they need help organizing their work.
Generative AI can help organize ideas into outlines and summaries, and give students ideas to start writing. These features can be a game-changer for students struggling to structure their thoughts or articulate their ideas effectively!
Here, Bard offers ideas to help a student start writing a paragraph about American involvement in the Vietnam War. It gives tips such as, “Start with a question,” and “Start with a quote from a historical figure or expert.”
You might be wondering if it's okay to ask ChatGPT or Bard to help outline your writing. This situation shows why it's important to teach students about using AI ethically.
When used properly, AI can help students improve their academic performance without cheating. For example, the student in our story told Bard not to write the paragraph.
Generative AI can bring clarity to complex topics
Generative AI, with its natural language processing capabilities, is great at simplifying complex topics.
Students can use AI to simplify complex information, like a science article for a paper. The AI breaks it down into easier explanations, but works best with shorter sections. This process helps break down comprehension barriers, making it easier for students to grasp difficult subject matter.
Generative AI can help students understand also help students understand simpler, yet still confusing information.
As a high school teacher, I spent a lot of time rewording instructions. I also spent time explaining tasks in different ways and breaking information down into smaller parts.
Using generative AI can help students ask for different explanations, saving time for teachers. It also helps students feel more independent and in control.
Using ChatGPT and generative AI the ethical way
In the new digital age of education, we need to rethink cheating and how AI is involved in education. When used thoughtfully and with guidance, generative AI tools can unlock the full potential of every student—while avoiding traditional notions of cheating.
Interested in exploring the ethical considerations of using AI in your classroom? Check out this blog for our top 10 ethical AI practices for K–12 students.
Before joining Carnegie Learning's marketing team in 2022, Karen spent 16 years teaching mathematics and social studies in Ohio classrooms. She has a passion for inclusive education and believes that all learners can be meaningfully included in academic settings from day one. As a former math and special education teacher, she is excited to provide educators with the latest in best-practices content so that they can set all students on the path to becoming confident "math people."
Explore more related to this authorGenerative AI can help students understand complex concepts, brainstorm ideas, boost creativity and critical thinking, and receive guidance—all while upholding high standards for academic integrity.
Karen Sloan, Math and Special Education Teacher of 16 Years
