“Dear Erin, I’ve heard about students using AI tools to help with homework and essays, but I’m not sure if it’s allowed or ethical. What’s the right way to use AI for school without crossing any lines?”
Dear confused AI student,
When used correctly, AI can help make learning efficient. For example Khanmigo by Khan Academy helps students solve and learn the problem, unlike other AI systems that give you the answer. Khanmigo is designed for student learning and easy to use. If you are unsure about how to effectively utilize Khanmigo for your own in-class struggles, consider asking a trusted teacher within the building to help you get a start.
While Khanmigo can be an excellent and responsible use of AI, other AI sites you may come across can be used irresponsibly, and really hurt your academic reputation if utilized in these ways. Before exploring how to use AI responsibly, here are a few guidelines to follow. Students who tend to use AI often fall into the trap of incorrect usage. This causes overreliance on AI leading students to succumb to laziness causing them to depend on the tool more, instead of its intended purpose: to enhance learning. AI can limit one’s original creativity to their work because automated intelligence only bases its decisions from already existing data. AI also commonly makes certain errors, which can adversely change one’s work.
However, there are different ways to use AI to better work. The tool can be efficiently used by using it to generate ideas and improve existing ones. AI can be helpful when brainstorming and creating structure and or improving work. On the contrary side, AI shouldn’t be used in your final submission. Copying someone else’s work word for word is plagiarism, even if it’s a generative AI program (like ChatGPT) and shouldn’t be used when writing for ANY class. When using someone (or something) else’s work you need to cite your sources.
People typically ask if AI is ethical. To decide whether a source is ethical or not you can look at their site’s description about safe usage, as well as your school policies on AI usage. Policies for schools regarding artificial intelligence are all different so make sure to check.
Ethical AI usage in schools means usage of AI in a fair, safe and transparent way. All AI systems should be fair and unbiased and ensure fairness. As well as privacy protecting people’s personal information and transparency. Make sure to make a smart decision when it comes to the usage of AI especially in a school setting. If at any point you aren’t sure whether your usage is safe, transparent or ethical, simply ask your instructor/teacher if what you have utilized it for is allowed. Oftentimes that’s the easiest way to know if you will be rewarded or reprimanded for your usage.
Sincerely,
Erin