How to create an AI policy for the classroom

Outline acceptable AI use

Instead of taking a vague stance on AI, which could leave students confused, set boundaries around AI usage and clearly define what’s acceptable in your classroom. Generative AI tools are incredibly useful to teachers and students. They customize learning plans, generate quizzes, offer writing tips, assist with brainstorming sessions, and much more. But when students turn to AI to finish an entire assignment or do too much of the work, they miss the opportunity to solidify their knowledge and enhance their own learning. If students use AI without express permission, they may be violating school plagiarism rules. Prevent this by teaching your class to use AI as a learning tool instead of a stand-in for what should be their own work.

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Examples of acceptable AI use

When it comes to AI-generated material, create a policy for students that outlines what’s acceptable to avoid any confusion. Explore these examples of appropriate AI use and adjust to fit your institution’s guidelines:

• Writing. AI tools offer grammar, style, and vocabulary suggestions to support students in their writing.
• Research. Generative and search AI assist with brainstorming topics and locating sources.
• Math. AI provides problem-solving tools, one-on-one math tutoring, and supplemental materials so students can deepen their knowledge and skills.
• Science. Generative AI creates images or models of natural phenomena, enhancing learning by making abstract concepts more tangible.
• Statistics. AI assists with data analysis, enabling students to identify patterns and draw conclusions.
• History. AI creates summaries or explanations of historical documents, allowing students to grasp complex texts.

Explain the academic risks of over-relying on AI

Tell your classroom about the short- and long-term risks and consequences that could result from AI misuse. For example, if students rely on AI to complete homework assignments, they may feel unprepared when it comes to exam season or lack the ability to build on their knowledge. Additionally, AI doesn’t provide 100% accuracy and often requires fact checking. By relying on AI without engaging with the information and conducting individual research, students may submit assignments with faulty or misleading information. And again, AI may lead to cheating and plagiarism issues, especially if used irresponsibly or without transparency.

Examples of unacceptable AI use

Prevent students from undermining their learning and academic integrity by prohibiting the use of AI to:

• Automate entire assignments. Students who use AI to write essays, solve problems, or complete projects lose the opportunity to learn and think critically.
• Edit and revise student work. Unless allowed by an assignment, using AI to edit or revise student work may limit students’ ability to increasingly improve their own work.
• Generate exam responses. Using AI to answer exam questions is dishonest and doesn’t reflect the student’s true knowledge of the material.
• Replace reading materials with summaries. When used this way, students miss the learning and insights that come from reading the full text themselves.
• Plagiarize. Submitting AI-generated content as if it is original work is a form of academic dishonesty that can lead to serious learning and academic consequences.

Address bias concerns

AI tools, like generative AI, train on large data sets that sometimes contain human error and biases. These biases affect the quality and fairness of AI-generated content, causing AI to produce text that lacks sensitivity around topics like history or social issues. Encourage students to research beyond AI and question AI-generated content that could potentially contain a biased or one-sided perspective.

Promote transparent AI use

Encourage students to actively engage with AI content. Promote AI as a tool for enhancing research, writing, and more when used in responsible ways. Lead by example by showing students how you integrate AI tools into the classroom, such as using AI to generate an outline for a potential lesson plan. Most importantly, create an open dialogue about AI use by mandating that students disclose when they’re using AI to assist with their work.

Manage results and continue to build on your policy

Continue to build on your policy as both your classroom and AI technology evolve. Monitor student progress to ensure they’re using AI tools appropriately. Compare AI-assisted assignments to solo assignments to determine if AI is being used efficiently. Lastly, ask your classroom to reflect on their experiences with AI and adjust your policy if needed.

Empower students to use technology responsibly and encourage creativity and critical thinking with an AI policy. Set clear boundaries to ensure AI supports classroom learning while preserving academic integrity and personal growth.