AI and the new boundaries of academic integrity

The widespread perception of technology is associated with complex electronic inventions whose workings are far beyond comprehension. Unfortunately, this understanding can limit us if we want to understand how the teaching and learning process has changed over the centuries.

The classical definition of technology refers to it as methods, systems, and devices resulting from scientific knowledge used for practical purposes. Therefore, even a pencil is technology.

But what causes discomfort, and even some fear, is when these technologies prove to be more efficient and effective than humans.?

A good example was the introduction of calculating machines in schools in the 1970s and 1980s. At the time, the concern was that mathematical skills could be ruined, since any calculation, from the simplest to the most complex, could be done using calculators. However, it took only a short time for schools and parents to realize that students would use them regardless of the restrictions, and there was no point in prohibiting or encouraging it if the basics of mathematical thinking were not taught. The problem then was not the calculators but the pedagogy method.

Ten years later, parents and educators faced a new dilemma: the Internet. The sense of insecurity regarding the accuracy and quality of information was immense at the time. Where education was once centered on books, today, they are electronic or online. The impact of this technology was so significant that even today, we still try to overcome it.

Because of the naturalization of the Internet in life as a whole, it has become challenging for the general population to perceive the level of incorporation of technologies in everyday life. Yet, artificial intelligence is nothing new for those in the field. We have been talking to machines for years, and everything seemed okay. For example, adaptive and predictive text tools have assisted people with disabilities since 1980, and predictive text tools have been helping us to write messages and emails for over a decade, not to mention online text translation tools.?

The big news is how AI is presented to us. Artificial intelligence has dressed up as an app, and suddenly it has become real.

There are many discussions concerning how to incorporate and monitor these tools inside and outside the classroom. One of the topics I would like to address in this article is the relationship between artificial intelligence and academic misconduct.

First, it is necessary to understand the concept of academic integrity, which is nothing more than a set of practices that generates credibility, trust, and respect within the academic community. Therefore, academic dishonesty would be a violation of this principle.?

In the academic environment, misconduct is nothing new. Besides plagiarism, essay mills have always been a severe issue. Artificial intelligence tools, therefore, have only increased the range of concerns.?

When considering how we can use AI in the school environment, it is easy to notice that there is no reason to fight back. Therefore, all that remains is to find ways to use it properly.

Perhaps, the biggest problem with using AI in schools is the possibility that the student will stop learning and start behaving like a replicator without any level of reflection on the essay content.?

The Internet has already proven that it is possible to associate technologies with education. Now we need to establish the rules.?

Something we might never put aside is accountability. Ultimately humans, not robots, are the ones to be held responsible for anything that machines write.?

Educational institutions must clarify the limits of use and the consequences if students and teachers break the rules. One of the strategies to deal with AI is to consider it as a research source, like papers and books, and to be appropriately cited within the rules established by schools and universities. This understanding is essential to equalize expectations and allow everyone to be on the same academic level.

Another critical point is classroom teaching strategies. Again, as with calculators, the goal is not to prohibit or restrict their use but to reformulate the pedagogy methodology. By establishing clear and objective usage rules and adapting them to each new situation, students and teachers can act together to meet pedagogical goals better.

If we can access information at any time, the important thing now is to determine the relevance and accuracy of what is being created. Students need to think critically about the content provided by AI, search for citations and references, and ensure the accuracy of what they deliver. Discussing the findings among peers is one way to promote critical thinking among students. Linking content to personal experiences is also a way to avoid overusing these tools.?

We must remember that AI is a replicator of content. Nothing is created (yet), so it has no creativity. This merit, for now, still belongs only to humans.

While the concept of academic dishonesty is quite clear, the scope of the tools and the limits on their use are still a gray area.?

It is necessary to recognize the use of AI. There is no shame in using information technology and digital technologies to help us think. In fact, scientists and newspaper editorial offices already use them to organize ideas and even guide writing. The right thing is to advise the audience when and where the tool was used.

WorldEd School WorldEd Foundation #education #aieducation #edtech #k12education #highschool #ai #academicintegrity