My First Experience with AI

Something happened this week that completely took me by surprise. I knew it would eventually happen, but I just didn't think it would be so soon.

This past weekend I was grading essays and came across one that was very well written. Too well written. It wasn't 6th grade writing, and it certainly wasn't typical of the work I've seen from this student.

I took my usual next step of putting it through a plagiarism checker. Nothing showed up--100% unique. I tried a few others and received the same results.

Image from Pixabay

I was stumped. 

And then occurred to me...artificial intelligence? Could it be? Could a 6th grader know how to do that? Could I be so naive to think this wouldn't happen in my classroom of 6th graders?

Monday came, and I had the students--yes, I am up to four now--bring me their computers. I searched their history, and sure enough, there it was. Searches and links to AI websites.

Right now, we have no policies in place, but I told my principal, "We better get ready. It's not coming; it's here."

We began testing this week, so I have not addressed it with the students yet, but this was certainly a wake-up call for me.

If you have any experience with students using AI to "cheat" I would love to hear how you and/or your school handled it. I am obviously not prepared!

 After participating in the Slice of Life March Challenge by Two Writing Teachers, I am continuing to write my stories with other teacher-writers as we share a slice of life on Tuesdays.