Academic Dishonesty

When looking at survey results, I found that a number of individuals believe TCU students cheat in there classes. Nearly 60% of respondents stated that that they strongly believe cheating to occur with the other 40% believing some to minimal cheating occurs. The most shocking, however, is that if I were to take the survey, I would have to agree with that 60%. 

So why do the students at TCU have such a strong perception of cheating? Are we all truly cheaters? Or are those sharing successful tales of cheating just the loudest voices? Is AI to blame? 

Personally, I feel the prevalence of cheating within the Neeley School because of the frequency in which my professors discuss academic dishonesty taking place. Whether this is through professors I have a close relationship with asking for advice or through professors warning the class of the consequences of cheating, I feel as if academic dishonesty makes its way into nearly every conversation. 

A great challenge for educators is figuring out how to navigate the academic environment now that students have unchecked access to artificial intelligence. AI can be such a beneficial tool, but it is also creates quite the temptation. This semester I took Introduction to Marketing AI, a class in which we studied the legality and ethical use of AI as well as learned how to use AI as a tool for streamlining repetitive tasks. Throughout the semester, we have wrestled with what AI could mean for students, and our professor has had candid conversations with us about struggles she has faced with AI usage in her other classes. It makes me sad to realize that so many bright students are not utilizing critical thinking and creative writing like they used to because of that unfiltered AI access. I also fear that I could have fallen into that same trap had I started my college journey with AI as it is today.

I do not envy the educators that must now rethink learning. I can image we are going to be seeing a greater uptick in handwritten, in-class work.