Academic Dishonesty and AI – A Conversation for Educators in Medical Schools
What a hot topic for medical educators as artificial intelligence (AI) has quickly become a transformative force in education! Its potential to enhance learning experiences, streamline administrative tasks, and provide personalized support is remarkable. Yet, AI comes with challenges. And one of the biggest concerns in academia is the role AI may play in cheating.
Students now have access to AI-powered tools that can write essays, solve complex problems, and even generate code with little to no effort. While these technologies can support learning when used correctly, they can also be used to skirt academic standards, which raises questions about fairness and integrity.
The growing use of AI in education has sparked critical discussions and questions. How can educators, students, and the institutions themselves uphold academic honesty when technology can make dishonesty easier than ever? While that’s a difficult question to answer in a single article, we’re starting the conversation below.
Academic Dishonesty in the Era of AI
Academic dishonesty encompasses actions like plagiarizing, cheating, or submitting work that is not the student’s own. With AI tools becoming more sophisticated and easily accessible, these student behaviors are increasing and taking varied forms.
For example, AI-powered writing tools can generate essays or reports in mere seconds. And on the surface, the work appears original and well done. Furthermore, math-solving apps can compute complex equations, and there are AI chemistry apps designed to help students complete assignments. The list goes on and on. (On an interesting note, Demis Hassabis won the 2024 Nobel Prize for Chemistry for his use of AI to predict 3D models of protein, which reminds us of the beneficial use of AI.)
While the AI tools mentioned above are designed to aid learning, students may misuse them. Therefore, educators have a new challenge – to distinguish between proper use of AI for assistance and its abuse for dishonest purposes.
The distinction is critical. With the misuse of AI and, consequently, academic dishonesty, a student’s education is undermined and an institution’s credentials are devalued. In medical education, it can mean the difference between life and death of a patient.
The Role of Educators in Combating AI Dishonesty
Teachers play a crucial role in addressing the challenges posed by AI and encouraging an environment of integrity. Below are some suggestions.
- Design AI-Proof Assessments: Exams or written assignments completed in class allow for more teacher supervision and should be considered for the most important topics and tasks. Also, assignments created to assess original thinking give less opportunity for AI assistance. For example, consider requiring students to connect personal experiences or real-world applications to their answers.
- Incorporate AI Literacy: AI is here to stay so education about it is imperative. And we shouldn’t want AI to go away. Remember, it offers many benefits too. Lots of patients will be saved and have been saved due to AI-powered technology. Educators should openly teach students about ethical AI use, including when and how to use AI tools responsibly. This helps students understand the boundaries between assistance and dishonesty.
- Use AI to Detect Dishonesty: Just as students can use AI to cheat, educators can use it to prevent cheating. Tools like plagiarism detectors, behavioral analysis during exams, and automated monitoring systems help identify patterns of dishonesty.
- Talk openly: Educators should create spaces and allot time for students to discuss their academic and personal struggles. Often, dishonesty arises from pressure or a lack of understanding, which can be mitigated through guidance and support.
AI and Academic Integrity
While AI poses significant risks, it also can foster academic integrity when used correctly. For instance, enhanced feedback systems powered by AI can analyze a student’s work and provide detailed feedback (fast!). Students know more quickly in what areas they need to focus their efforts.
Another example, adaptive learning AI tools provide customized content based on a student’s strengths and weaknesses. Like AI-powered feedback apps, students know more quickly how they’re progressing and can see improvements in real time. Some educators are finding that these feelings of accomplishment in students and knowledge of where improvement is needed are helping to curb dishonest practices.
Education Litigation Group Wants to Talk about AI
We don’t shy away from difficult conversations and evolving topics at our law firm. If you – an educator at a medical school, a medical student or an administrator – have questions about AI and academic dishonesty, please ask. AI is a powerful tool. We recognize that it can either undermine or support academic integrity depending on how it is used. We want to support the positive use of AI in medical schools.
Contact us using this form or call 1 (800) 580-9167 with your questions or concerns.