The future of education is being shaped by one of the most powerful and rapidly developing technologies of our time: artificial intelligence (AI).
AI is already being used in education in a variety of ways, from personalised learning platforms to adaptive testing tools.
However, there is also growing concern about the potential risks of AI in education, such as bias in algorithms and the dehumanising effect of relying too heavily on technology.
This is posing a danger to our education as it is killing the definition of research.
Plagiarism, the act of using someone else's work or ideas without giving proper credit, has long been a concern in education.
With the advent of the internet and easy access to vast amounts of information, the issue of plagiarism has become even more prevalent. AI also plays a role in this problem, both as a facilitator and a potential solution.
Firstly, AI has made it easier for students to plagiarise. Students can now use AI-powered tools to generate essays, reports, or other academic content with minimal effort.
These tools can automatically generate text by analysing existing sources, making it difficult for teachers or plagiarism detection software to detect the copied content.
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Additionally, AI can be used to translate and paraphrase text, further obscuring the original source and making plagiarism harder to detect.
AI-enabled "essay-writing bots" have the potential to significantly impact student behaviour in several ways.
Increased reliance on automation: Students may become more dependent on these bots to write their essays, leading to a reduction in critical thinking, research skills, and the ability to articulate their own thoughts and ideas. Instead of engaging with the writing process, they may simply rely on the bots to generate content.
Ethical concerns: Using essay-writing bots raises ethical considerations related to academic integrity.
If students use these bots to produce essays without proper attribution or acknowledgment, it can lead to plagiarism issues and academic misconduct. Institutions and educators will need to establish clear guidelines and policies to address these concerns.
Knowledge gaps: Relying on essay-writing bots could create gaps in students' knowledge and understanding of the subject matter.
Writing an essay requires a deep engagement with the material, research, and critical analysis. By skipping these steps, students may miss out on important learning opportunities. Reduced creativity and originality: AI-enabled bots may have limitations in generating truly creative and original content.
The essays produced by these bots may lack the unique insights and perspectives that human writers bring.
This could result in a decline in the overall quality of student work.
Impact on learning outcomes: The primary goal of essay writing is to develop students' skills in research, analysis, critical thinking, and effective communication.
By relying on essay-writing bots, students may miss out on the opportunity to develop and refine these essential skills, which are valuable for academic and professional success.
With these impacts on student AI has proven to be destroying the students' brains as they no longer apply critical thinking in their school work because they will be relying on AI.
However, there is a need for AI-enabled plagiarism detection tools that can have a significant impact on student behaviour.
The presence of plagiarism detection tools can act as a deterrent, discouraging students from engaging in academic dishonesty. Knowing that their work will be scrutinised by these tools may make students think twice before attempting to plagiarise or cheat.
Plagiarism detection tools help promote a culture of academic integrity by emphasising the importance of originality and proper citation. Students are encouraged to learn how to properly attribute sources and avoid unintentional plagiarism, fostering a responsible approach to academic writing.
Plagiarism detection tools can serve as a learning tool for students, helping them understand the importance of paraphrasing, summarising, and citing sources accurately.
When flagged for potential plagiarism, students have the opportunity to review and revise their work, improving their research and writing skills.
Plagiarism detection tools make students more aware of the consequences of academic misconduct. By highlighting instances of potential plagiarism, these tools can educate students about the negative impact it can have on their academic and professional reputation.
Plagiarism detection tools raise ethical considerations regarding privacy and the use of student work.
It is important for educational institutions to implement these tools responsibly, ensuring that student privacy is protected and that the focus remains on promoting academic integrity rather than punitive measures.
Not only does AI affect students, it also affects teachers, and the society as a whole, thus some of the implications include:
Loss of trust and credibility
Plagiarism challenges the trust between teachers and students. When teachers encounter instances of plagiarism, it can be disheartening and undermine their confidence in students' abilities and sincerity. It can also lead to scepticism and increased scrutiny of student work, potentially impacting the teacher-student relationship.
Increased workload
Detecting and addressing plagiarism requires significant time and effort from teachers. They must carefully review student work, compare it with potential sources, and determine the appropriate actions to take.
This additional workload can detract from other teaching responsibilities and impact overall job satisfaction.
Diluted knowledge and innovation:
Plagiarism stifles genuine knowledge creation and innovation.
When individuals copy and reproduce the work of others without proper attribution, it hampers the progress of original research and the development of new ideas. Society relies on the generation of novel knowledge to advance and address complex challenges.
Erosion of intellectual property rights:
Plagiarism undermines the value and importance of intellectual property rights.
It devalues the efforts of content creators and discourages investment in research and creative endeavours.
This can have a detrimental impact on industries that rely on intellectual property, such as publishing, music, film, and technology.
Ethical and professional implications:
Plagiarism in education can have broader ethical and professional implications.
When students who engage in plagiarism enter the workforce, they may carry unethical practices and behaviours with them.
This can compromise the integrity of professional fields and erode public trust.
Reducing plagiarism in education requires a multi-faceted approach that addresses both the underlying causes and the implementation of effective preventive measures.
Education on academic integrity: Institutions should prioritise teaching students about academic integrity, including the definition of plagiarism, its consequences, and how to avoid it. This education can be integrated into orientation programs, writing workshops, and information literacy courses.
Clear guidelines and policies: Institutions should establish clear and comprehensive policies on academic integrity, including plagiarism.
These policies should be communicated to students, faculty, and staff and should outline the consequences of plagiarism. Clear guidelines on proper citation methods and referencing should also be provided.
Encourage critical thinking and originality: Emphasise the importance of critical thinking, originality, and independent thought in academic work. Encourage students to develop their ideas and opinions, supporting them with evidence and proper attribution.
Assignments tailored to discourage plagiarism: Design assignments and assessment methods that discourage plagiarism.
For instance, instead of generic topics, ask for personal reflections, case studies, or problem-solving exercises that require unique responses and personal engagement.
Use plagiarism detection tools: Implement plagiarism detection software such as Turnitin or Grammarly to identify instances of plagiarism.
These tools compare submitted work against a vast database of sources and highlight potential matches, helping educators identify and address cases of plagiarism.
Foster an ethical academic culture: Promote an ethical academic culture by encouraging open discussions about plagiarism and its consequences.
Emphasise the value of original work, integrity, and responsible scholarship within the academic community.
Teach digital literacy skills: Incorporate digital literacy skills into the curriculum, including proper research techniques, source evaluation, and citation methods. Teach students how to navigate online resources responsibly, avoid unintentional plagiarism, and use citation management tools effectively.
By embracing the benefits of AI in education while addressing the issue of plagiarism through a balanced approach, institutions can leverage technology to enhance learning outcomes while maintaining academic integrity and ethical standards.
*Gary Gerald Mtombeni is a journalist based in Harare. He writes here in his own personal capacity. For feedback Email garymtombeni@gmail.com/ call- +263778861608
