Artificial intelligence (AI) has made it increasingly difficult to differentiate human and AI-generated content. In order to alleviate this, tools such as AI checkers have been developed to maintain the integrity and originality of our work. This tool is vital in the education field, as educators must ensure that students can apply learned concepts on their own and not solely through the assistance of technology. However, as reliance on these tools to flag plagiarism and AI grows, so does the issue of many students being inaccurately accused of cheating, even when the student produced their own work. The issue that stands now is what steps can be taken to address this inaccuracy and how teachers and students can agree on how to fairly assess originality without unfairly penalizing students.
Imagine this: A student just completed their English essay and submitted it on the AI checker website, turnitin.com. This student has spent over a week drafting, revising and stressing over perfecting their analysis and writing a coherent essay. However, upon receiving feedback, the student is shocked to find that their essay has been marked 85 percent AI and receives a zero on the assignment. This situation has become a common problem for many students, with several feeling frustrated about having their work invalidated by one simple document scan that is not 100 percent accurate.
Teachers, on the other hand, face a different challenge. They are obligated to hold students responsible for meeting academic standards, ensuring that their work is of integrity and the fruition of their efforts. In order to address the scenario above, the teacher should communicate with the student and take a deeper look for obvious signs of AI, such as diction and phrasing, before determining whether or not AI was used. Teachers will also look through previous assignments and handwritten essays to determine whether the student’s writing style is consistent. Although AI checkers can be inconsistent, it is generally reliable if a student is flagged over 50 percent. However, regardless of the percentage flagged, AI checkers are not the sole factor determining whether a student utilizes AI.
To ensure fairness for students, we at the Hoofprint believe that a mutual understanding between teachers and students must be reached. Students must hold themselves responsible for their learning while teachers must take into consideration the inaccuracies that come with AI detectors. Even if students utilize AI for brainstorming, ultimately that is also taking away a step in the creative process. A student must learn the steps in organizing their thoughts to compose a work that is their voice. Adjustments have to be made accordingly to adapt to the effects of AI—whether it be more paper essays or writing checks—to allow students to develop the critical writing skills needed for their academics and future aspirations.
