AI Concerns Invite Student to a Conversation

AI Detectors

It is imperative that we acknowledge that AI detection tools have not performed well, and most experts agree that true AI detection will never be possible. AI detectors can miss student work that was generated by AI and, more alarmingly, can provide false positives under many circumstances.

FSW no longer has access to the AI detection feature in TurnItIn and does not support other AI detection applications.

Consider advising students that if you have a question about where any of their work comes from during the semester, you will be inviting them to have a conversation about it. This may be a good opportunity to remind them to document their learning process, save drafts, and otherwise be able to account for their work.

Analyzing Student Work

If you are concerned a student used generative AI outside of the boundaries allowed in your course, begin to systematically review the work and document your concerns. You may want to consider the following:

Does anything clearly point to a problem? Sometimes students leave in AI-generated text that says something along the lines of "As large language model, I cannot . . ." or a "Regenerate response" prompt. Other times students may hand in something off-topic, like a response about a piece of work or idea outside of what you assigned.
Could there be another explanation for writing that seems "off" to you or for a higher percentage of AI likelihood in TurnItIn? For example, could the student be using Google Translate or Grammarly? Is it possible that they use a less natural style because of their background or previous school experiences?

Beginning the Conversation

When you reach out to a student, do so thoughtfully in a way that will allow them to learn from the experience. The following email template may be revised for your own use.

Dear Student,

I am curious about the source of the work you submitted on the ___ assignment and would like to have a conversation about it. Please respond as soon as you can to set up a meeting. During that time, I would like to know more about the process you used to generate and present your ideas.

At this point, I am interested in an open, helpful conversation that helps me understand your work and allows you to grow in your ability to express your ideas. Should we need to discuss academic integrity during our talk, know that I will allow you to present your perspective, and we will review your work together in light of the course policies listed on the syllabus.

I believe you can be successful in this course and look forward to our conversation in that light.

Having the Conversation

Approach the conversation with authentic curiosity, focusing on creating a teachable moment. These suggestions may help you decide how to proceed.

Have the student discuss the process they used to complete the assignment.
Give the student an opportunity to account for their work or their mastery of the material covered in the assignment.
Decide whether it seems appropriate to ask directly about AI use.
If the student did use an AI tool, try to assess their understanding of that tool relative to course policies.
If using TurnItIn, give the student a chance to review the report and discuss it with you. In a non-accusatory way, ask if they have other ideas for why there could be a higher AI probability score.
If you notice discrepancies in the assignment, ask the student about them.

Other Resources

Review the Ensuring Academic Integrity Module in the AI Excellence Toolkit for more ideas.