Most secondary students have used an AI assistant for schoolwork. The realistic goal is not prevention but a household standard both sides understand.
Understand what the tools do well
They explain, summarise, generate practice questions and rewrite text quickly. They are also fluent when wrong, which is the part students underestimate.
Agree where the line sits
A workable rule: AI may help you understand and practise; it may not produce work you submit as your own. Write it down once and refer to it rather than relitigating it weekly.
Ask to see the process
Asking a student to explain their argument aloud reveals more than inspecting the document. If they can defend it, they probably wrote it.
Check the school's policy
Schools differ significantly, and academic-integrity consequences are real. Knowing the actual rule beats assuming one.
- AI
- Digital Skills
- Communication