3.1.1: What counts as “cheating” with AI?

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As AI tools become more accessible, students are using them in a variety of ways—some appropriate, some not. What qualifies as “cheating” depends on the expectations you set. Without clear guidelines, students may unintentionally cross academic integrity lines.

Used without permission or in ways that bypass learning, AI can undermine the purpose of your assignments. Being explicit about what is and isn’t allowed helps protect your course objectives and supports student success.

🚫 Misuse of AI Tools

Use this section to identify red flags and clarify boundaries.

Use AI misuse examples to:

Spot when students rely on AI for core thinking tasks (e.g., writing an essay start to finish)
Identify unauthorized use during assessments
Recognize mismatches between student voice and submitted work
Reinforce that misrepresentation of authorship violates policy

✅ Prompt Example:
“List five examples of how students might misuse AI in a college writing course, including those that would qualify as academic dishonesty.”

🔍 What to Watch For

Use this section to evaluate submitted work for signs of AI overuse.

Use AI to:

Analyze tone and style mismatches compared to earlier submissions
Check for vague, generic, or overly polished content
Detect inconsistencies between prompt specificity and the student response
Review Canvas or Google Docs version history for sudden jumps

✅ Prompt Example:
“Provide five signs that might indicate a student’s writing assignment was heavily assisted or generated by AI tools like ChatGPT.”

✅ Preventing AI-Related Cheating

Use this section to design assignments that make misusing AI harder.

Use AI to:

Generate writing prompts that require personal or course-specific reflection
Develop process-based assignments that include outlines, drafts, or reflections
Create transparency checklists (e.g., “Explain how you used any outside tools”)
Build rubrics that reward originality, effort, and critical thinking

✅ Prompt Example:
“Create a discussion prompt that includes a question only answerable through personal reflection or course-based experience.”

🎓 Why This Matters for Instructors

AI isn’t inherently dishonest—but unmonitored, it can replace the very skills you’re trying to teach. Students may not understand when AI use crosses into cheating unless you guide them.

By proactively addressing AI misuse:

You reduce academic integrity violations
You support authentic student learning
You build transparency and trust in your course
You model ethical tech use in real-world scenarios

When students know the rules, they’re more likely to play fair.

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