Plagiarism and AI in the Classroom
Plagiarism
When teachers see any sign of plagiarism in student work, the natural response is often hell-fire and damnation. Perhaps this response may be warranted with university students writing in their L1, but L2 writers? Before failing your student or expelling them from a program, take a moment to consider why your student may be “plagiarizing”.
Cultural differences: Not every culture frets over copyright and author ownership in the same way as many western traditions. Some Asian cultures ask students to memorize vast amounts of texts in order to understand material. Once memorized, who do those ideas belong to? The original authors or the students?
Citation Errors: Many instances of plagiarism are simply a failure to cite the source. Guide students on how to complete comprehensive citations. When grading student work, mark where students are missing citations and provide opportunities for revision.
Growing proficiency: As students develop writing skills and competencies, they will reach for scaffolding in all forms, including modeling their writing after other authors. While students should be taught that the goal is to be original, allow grace as students grow as writers.
Yes, some plagiarism may be a direct attempt to cheat on an assignment. Use discretion as you interpret the reasons behind plagiarism. Do not assume that your students were simply being lazy and dishonest.
AI
In a world of rapidly developing technology, the use of generative AI has become a concern for teachers in all fields. Here are a few suggestions of how to handle the use of AI in your classroom:
Ask students to use AI: This may seem a little counterintuitive, but assigning students to use AI on assignments can help students learn how to use AI in ethical ways. Provide clear instructions on how to use AI for an assignment. You may instruct students to ask AI to provide feedback on their essay that they can implement. This is no different than receiving feedback for a teacher or peer. Other ideas could include using AI for brainstorming, models, or interpreting confusing prompts.
AI disclosure policy: In the class syllabus, provide an AI disclosure policy. Define different forms of AI, describe appropriate uses of AI, and provide clear instructions on how to honestly disclose their use of AI for assignments.
Discuss the dangers of AI: Consider holding a class discussion on the dangers of AI. You may be surprised how opinionated your students are about AI. Discuss the short-term and long-term consequences of allowing AI to do your work for you.
