Teachers fight back against AI misuse
AI is being leveraged by educators to tackle academic dishonesty in the digital age.

Educators are embracing AI to tackle academic dishonesty, which is increasingly prevalent in digital learning environments. Tools like ChatGPT have made it easier for students to generate entire assignments using AI. To counter this, teachers are employing AI detection tools and innovative strategies to maintain academic integrity.
Understanding AI’s capabilities is crucial in detecting misuse. Educators are advised to familiarise themselves with tools like ChatGPT by testing it with sample assignments. Collecting genuine writing samples from students early in the semester provides a baseline for comparison, helping identify potential AI-generated work. Tools designed specifically to detect AI writing further assist in verifying authenticity.
Requesting rewrites is another effective approach when AI usage is suspected. By asking an AI tool to rewrite a suspected piece, teachers can highlight the telltale signs of machine-generated text, such as a lack of personal style and overuse of synonyms. Strong evidence of AI misuse strengthens cases when addressing cheating with students and school administrators.
The rise of AI in education underscores the need for vigilance. Teachers must balance scepticism with evidence-based methods to ensure fairness. Maintaining a collaborative and transparent approach can help foster a culture of learning over shortcuts.