You need a two-minute talk, not a 12-page policy. Here's what mine sounds like.
The talk
"AI tools exist. You already know that. Here's how they work in this class.
- When AI helps you think, brainstorming, checking your grammar, explaining something you didn't understand from the reading, it's a tool. Use it. Tell me when you did.
- When AI does the thinking for you, writing your essay, answering a discussion question you didn't read for, it's cheating, same as if a friend wrote it for you. I'll notice, and it will cost you.
- If you're not sure which side of the line something falls on, ask me. I'd rather answer that question 100 times than catch you on the wrong side of it once."
Why this works better than a policy PDF
Kids remember three sentences. They don't remember three pages. The line is: thinking with is fine; thinking instead of is not.
What to design differently
- Some assessments should be process-based, drafts, revisions, conferences. AI can't fake process.
- Some should be in-person, a short oral, a whiteboard problem. AI can't attend class.
- The rest can be take-home, with the expectation that students will use tools and cite them.
