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Academic Integrity: Using AI Without Cheating Yourself

How to tell helpful AI use from dishonest use, follow your teacher's policy, and disclose and cite AI when you use it.

  • 8 min
  • +50 XP
  • 2 knowledge checks

By the end of this station, you can:

  • Place common AI uses on a green / yellow / red spectrum
  • Explain why your teacher's policy is the first rule to check
  • Disclose and cite AI assistance using published style guidance

The real question: who did the learning?

Assignments exist so you can practice thinking, writing and problem-solving. When AI does that part for you, you get the grade but skip the learning — and you misrepresent whose work it is.

At the same time, AI can be a genuinely good study partner: explaining a tough concept, quizzing you, or pointing out where your argument is weak. Academic integrity is about using it in ways that support your learning and being honest about how you used it.

  1. Green

    Usually OK (check your class policy)

    • Brainstorming ideas
    • Explaining a concept a new way
    • Quizzing yourself before a test

  2. Yellow

    Ask first & disclose

    • Editing suggestions on your writing
    • Help building an outline
    • Feedback on a draft

  3. Red

    Not OK

    • Submitting AI-written work as your own
    • Making up or fabricating sources
DiagramMost AI uses fall somewhere on a spectrum. Green supports your learning, yellow needs permission and disclosure, and red replaces your own work.

Green, yellow and red uses

Green: usually supports learning

  • Explaining a concept in simpler words
  • Generating practice questions to quiz yourself
  • Brainstorming topics you then research yourself
  • Getting feedback on your own draft's clarity

Yellow to red: check policy and disclose

  • Yellow: rewording or editing your sentences
  • Yellow: suggesting an outline you then build on
  • Red: generating an essay, answers or code you submit as your own
  • Red: using AI on a test or assignment where it's not allowed

Knowledge check 1

+10 XP on first try
Your English teacher's syllabus doesn't mention AI. You'd like to use a chatbot to suggest a structure for your essay. What's the best first step?

Key terms

Academic integrity
Being honest and responsible in schoolwork: doing your own work, giving credit to sources, and following the rules for each assignment.
Disclosure
Clearly stating how you used an AI tool in your work — for example, "I used a chatbot to generate practice questions and to check my grammar."

How to disclose and cite AI

If AI contributed to your work and your teacher allows it, say so. A short disclosure note explains what tool you used and what you used it for. If you quote or paraphrase AI-generated text, cite it.

Major style guides have published guidance for this. The MLA Style Center explains how to cite generative AI in MLA style, and the APA Style blog explains how to cite tools like ChatGPT in APA style. Formats can be updated over time, so check the current guidance or your teacher's preferred format.

ExampleA sample disclosure note

You

Assignment: Research essay on renewable energy policy

AI assistant (sample)

AI use statement: I used an AI chatbot to brainstorm possible essay topics and to generate practice questions while studying. I chose my topic, found and read all sources myself, and wrote every paragraph. I did not use AI-generated text in the final essay.

Why it matters: Specific and honest beats vague. Saying what you did not use AI for is just as helpful to your teacher as what you did.

Protect yourself with a paper trail

  • Keep your drafts, notes and outlines — they show how your thinking developed.
  • Save or screenshot important AI conversations you used, so you can show exactly what help you got.
  • Never cite a source the AI suggested unless you found and read it yourself.

Knowledge check 2

+10 XP on first try
Your teacher allows AI for feedback but not for writing. Which use fits that rule?

Finish this station

Answer every knowledge check (right or wrong) to unlock completion.

  • Knowledge check 1 — not answered yet
  • Knowledge check 2 — not answered yet

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