Artificial intelligence chatbots like ChatGPT have sparked a college cheating crisis, leading educators to seek ways to create ChatGPT-proof assessments. The prevalence of AI-generated chatbots has revolutionized cheating practices in colleges, leaving educators scrambling to rethink their teaching methods. While they acknowledge the potential benefits of AI in education, they realize the urgent need to devise strategies that can counter cheating using these chatbots.
Some instructors are considering a return to traditional paper exams, shifting away from digital-only tests that are more susceptible to chatbot plagiarism. Additionally, professors may require students to provide editing history and drafts to demonstrate their thought process. However, not all educators are deeply concerned, as they believe that cheating has always existed in various forms, and this is just another option available to students.
The surge in AI-generated chatbots, such as ChatGPT, has raised significant challenges for educators striving to ensure students not only provide correct answers but also develop a genuine understanding of the subject matter. However, there are still substantial hurdles to overcome. For example, current plagiarism detection tools often struggle to accurately identify chatbot-generated text, frequently showing better results with human-created content.
Cheating with AI chatbots is difficult to detect, with students typically avoiding capture unless they voluntarily confess. Unlike traditional plagiarism, where duplicated text can be easily pinpointed, AI-generated text is unique each time it is produced. Nevertheless, some instances of cheating are blatantly obvious, such as assignments that include statements like, I am just an AI language model, I don’t have an opinion on that.
The impact of chatbots on study habits and information-seeking behavior is already evident. Companies like Chegg Inc., a platform offering homework assistance, reported a decline in their shares due to the rising usage of ChatGPT among students. The allure of quickly finding information without the effort of using dedicated research resources is a concern for educators. Moreover, chatbots are prone to factual errors, compromising the integrity of the information students rely on.
To address these challenges, colleges and universities have urged instructors to establish clear guidelines regarding the use of chatbots in the classroom. Institutions like Michigan State University and Temple University offer resources and workshops to guide faculty in redesigning assessments and establishing new policies. For example, instead of straightforward questions easily answered by chatbots, educators are encouraged to inquire differently, incorporating errors into descriptions and asking students to identify them.
While some educators are considering a shift back to traditional paper-based testing to combat cheating, others are exploring alternative approaches. At St. John’s University, computer science professor Bonnie MacKellar plans to require handwritten code for intro-level courses and increase the weighting of paper exams in final grades. However, students express varying views, with some questioning the distinction between using AI chatbots for homework assistance and relying on other online sources like YouTube.
With the emergence of chatbot-assisted cheating, students like Colorado College’s Nathan LeVang now verify their assignments using AI plagiarism detectors to alleviate concerns about unintentional plagiarism accusations. The rise of chatbots has heightened awareness among students, forcing them to take extra precautions to ensure the authenticity of their work.
As colleges and universities grapple with the cheating crisis fueled by AI chatbots, instructors and institutions are adapting their teaching strategies and assessment methods. By encouraging creativity in question design, promoting personalized assignments, and setting clear guidelines, educators aim to create a learning environment that values authentic understanding and critical thinking skills. While the challenges posed by chatbots persist, the education community is committed to finding innovative solutions to uphold academic integrity.
