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Promoting Academic Integrity in the Age of AI: How Schools Can Foster Ethical Learning
Explore strategies for schools to tackle AI-related cheating, from teaching responsible AI tools to creating a culture of honesty and ethical learning practices.
Date of writing
March 6, 2025
Time of reading
2 minutes
As artificial intelligence (AI) tools become more accessible, their role in education has sparked both excitement and concern, according to K-12 Dive. While AI offers innovative ways to enhance learning, it also raises questions about academic integrity and student cheating. How can schools navigate this challenge and promote ethical AI use? Education expert Jason Stephens, a professor at the University of Auckland, suggests fostering a “culture of integrity” and teaching students to use AI responsibly.
The use of AI tools like ChatGPT among students has surged in recent years. According to a Pew Research Center study, the number of teens using ChatGPT for schoolwork doubled between 2023 and 2024. This trend has left educators grappling with how to address the potential for cheating while still embracing the benefits of AI.
Stephens, who also serves as vice president for research at the International Center for Academic Integrity, emphasizes that banning AI outright is not the solution. Instead, he advocates for transparency and ethical education. “AI has made it all the more easier to cheat, to cheat well, and to do so in a way that’s very difficult to detect,” he said. “But the emergence of AI doesn’t really change the challenges of moral or ethical functioning.”
Cheating doesn’t just undermine academic performance—it also stunts intellectual, social, and moral growth. Stephens explains that while academic dishonesty is unethical, it is also a natural behavior. This is why educators must actively work to create an environment that discourages cheating.
“Students are more likely to cheat if they see it as just against school rules,” Stephens said. “On the other hand, they are less likely to cheat if they understand the moral principles at play.”
To address this, Stephens suggests that educators engage students in conversations about the broader impact of cheating. They can explain how dishonesty creates unfair advantages, misrepresents knowledge, and harms the learning community. Additionally, discussing the psychology of cheating—such as the tendency to rationalize unethical behavior—can help students recognize and address these patterns in themselves.
Rather than fearing AI, educators can teach students how to use it as a tool for learning. For example, students can learn to craft prompts that deepen their understanding of a topic, such as asking an AI tool to provide metaphors or explanations for complex concepts.
Stephens also recommends requiring students to disclose their use of AI in assignments. This could include submitting screenshots of the prompts they used and the AI-generated responses. By encouraging transparency, educators can ensure that AI is used as a supplement to learning, not a shortcut.
For summative assessments, where foundational skills must be demonstrated, Stephens suggests conducting tests in class and on paper. This approach reduces reliance on AI for homework and ensures that students are prepared for assessments without external assistance.
While AI detection tools are becoming more common—68% of teachers used them in the 2023-24 school year, according to the Center for Democracy & Technology—Stephens advises caution. He recommends using these tools as a last resort rather than screening every assignment.
Instead, educators should rely on their knowledge of students’ abilities and look for non-AI indicators of cheating, such as the absence of expected concepts or the inclusion of unfamiliar references.
Ultimately, Stephens believes that fostering a culture of integrity is key to addressing academic dishonesty. By emphasizing the moral and ethical implications of cheating and teaching students to use AI responsibly, educators can help students navigate the challenges of modern learning while upholding academic integrity.
As AI continues to shape education, schools must adapt by promoting ethical practices and empowering students to use technology as a tool for growth, not a means of cutting corners.
The use of AI tools like ChatGPT among students has surged in recent years. According to a Pew Research Center study, the number of teens using ChatGPT for schoolwork doubled between 2023 and 2024. This trend has left educators grappling with how to address the potential for cheating while still embracing the benefits of AI.
Stephens, who also serves as vice president for research at the International Center for Academic Integrity, emphasizes that banning AI outright is not the solution. Instead, he advocates for transparency and ethical education. “AI has made it all the more easier to cheat, to cheat well, and to do so in a way that’s very difficult to detect,” he said. “But the emergence of AI doesn’t really change the challenges of moral or ethical functioning.”
Cheating doesn’t just undermine academic performance—it also stunts intellectual, social, and moral growth. Stephens explains that while academic dishonesty is unethical, it is also a natural behavior. This is why educators must actively work to create an environment that discourages cheating.
“Students are more likely to cheat if they see it as just against school rules,” Stephens said. “On the other hand, they are less likely to cheat if they understand the moral principles at play.”
To address this, Stephens suggests that educators engage students in conversations about the broader impact of cheating. They can explain how dishonesty creates unfair advantages, misrepresents knowledge, and harms the learning community. Additionally, discussing the psychology of cheating—such as the tendency to rationalize unethical behavior—can help students recognize and address these patterns in themselves.
Rather than fearing AI, educators can teach students how to use it as a tool for learning. For example, students can learn to craft prompts that deepen their understanding of a topic, such as asking an AI tool to provide metaphors or explanations for complex concepts.
Stephens also recommends requiring students to disclose their use of AI in assignments. This could include submitting screenshots of the prompts they used and the AI-generated responses. By encouraging transparency, educators can ensure that AI is used as a supplement to learning, not a shortcut.
For summative assessments, where foundational skills must be demonstrated, Stephens suggests conducting tests in class and on paper. This approach reduces reliance on AI for homework and ensures that students are prepared for assessments without external assistance.
While AI detection tools are becoming more common—68% of teachers used them in the 2023-24 school year, according to the Center for Democracy & Technology—Stephens advises caution. He recommends using these tools as a last resort rather than screening every assignment.
Instead, educators should rely on their knowledge of students’ abilities and look for non-AI indicators of cheating, such as the absence of expected concepts or the inclusion of unfamiliar references.
Ultimately, Stephens believes that fostering a culture of integrity is key to addressing academic dishonesty. By emphasizing the moral and ethical implications of cheating and teaching students to use AI responsibly, educators can help students navigate the challenges of modern learning while upholding academic integrity.
As AI continues to shape education, schools must adapt by promoting ethical practices and empowering students to use technology as a tool for growth, not a means of cutting corners.