With the rise of generative AI, one of the primary fears for instructors is that students will use AI to do their work for them. Naturally, many instructors turn to AI detectors to reveal this. However, there are major issues with AI detectors that instructors should be aware of as the evaluate these tools. Read more below:
From MIT: "AI Detectors Don't Work. Here's What to Do Instead."
From the University of Kansas: "Why You Should Use Caution With AI Detectors"
From Northern Illinois: "AI Detectors: An Ethical Minefield"
From Stanford: "AI-Detectors Biased Against Non-Native English Writers"
From Liza Long's "Artisanal Intelligence" Substack: "ChatGPT 101: The Student Ethics Edition"
From Community College Professor Anna Mills: "Why I'm Using AI Detection After All, Alongside Many Other Strategies"
So what should an instructor do if the detectors are unreliable and there is a fear of academic dishonesty?
One thing that an instructor can do to prevent unethical AI usage by students is...teach them how to use it ethically! Students (most of them!) want to know how to use AI ethically, responsibly, and intelligently. The best way for them to accomplish that is to be taught how to do so by professional educators. There are a wealth of tools available for educators themselves to learn how to also use AI ethically, responsibly, and intelligently, including in the Columbia State Center for Teaching and Learning. Here are a few resources below on teaching students how to use AI in a responsible manner:
From the website Truth for Teachers: "Teach Students How to Use Artificial Intelligence Responsibly"
From UNC-Charlotte: "Classroom Strategies to Promote Responsible Use of A.I."
From Novak Education: "Empower Students to Become Ethical and Responsible AI Users"
From Elon University: The 2025 Student Guide to Artificial Intelligence
What if I want to AI-proof my assignments?
Though no assignment can ever be completely "AI-proof," there are definitely strategies that instructors can use to help make AI usage less likely. Here are some ideas:
From Northern Michigan University: "Creating AI-Resistant Assignments, Activities, and Assessments (Designing Out)"
From the University of Chicago: "Strategies for Designing AI-Resistant Assignments"
From Florida Gulf Coast University: "GenAI Proof Your Discussion Forums"
From Inside Higher Ed: "The Handwriting Revolution"
(Note: Concerns about unethical AI usage in online course Discussion Boards is one of the first things instructors mention in conversations about the topic.)