Evaluating 13 scenarios of AI in IB student coursework

A student uses AI for a summary of key points for their essay and suggests references. What should a teacher ensure?

• The student is using AI correctly.

• The student truly understands the points that are being made.

• The student has cited all references properly.

• The student has written the essay without any AI assistance.

#3: A student uses AI to find quotes on the essay topic and simply copies them without investigating further. What is the implication of this action?

• It is acceptable as long as the quotes are relevant.

• It is not acceptable; the student is not engaging with the sources.

• It is acceptable if the student cites the AI as a source.

• It is not acceptable; the student is using AI to replace their thinking process.

A student instructs AI to develop a research question grounded in an IB subject for investigation, with or without elaboration on a topic area. What is the acceptable approach for a student in this context?

• A student should work with their teacher or supervisor to identify the subject and topic of interest and may then instruct AI to provide examples of research questions in this area.

• A student can independently develop a research question without any guidance from teachers or supervisors.

• A student should only use AI to generate research questions without any prior topic selection.

• A student must submit their research question to the school library for approval before using AI.

A student uses AI to write an example of this particular essay for them and uses this as an example of a model answer for their response (translating it into their own words). What is the implication of this action?

• It is acceptable as long as the student translates it into their own words.

• It is not acceptable and can be treated as plagiarism if the student does not display clear understanding of the content.

• It is encouraged as it helps students learn from AI-generated content.

• It is acceptable if the student submits the work without any changes.

A student writes the essay in one language and then uses AI to translate it into another language for submission. Is this acceptable?

• Yes, it is acceptable as long as the content is accurate.

• Yes, as AI translation is a common practice.

• Not acceptable. The IB certifies that the student has studied the subject in a particular language. Universities and employers are likely to assume the student can work in this language based on their IB certificate.

• It depends on the university's policy regarding translations.

A student uses AI to suggest improvements for grammar and sentence construction but not a wholescale rewrite. What is the acceptable practice for the student regarding this use of AI?

• State somewhere (at least to the teacher) that they have used AI in this way.

• Claim that the work is entirely their own without mentioning AI.

• Use AI to completely rewrite their work for better grades.

• Avoid mentioning AI to prevent any potential issues.

#10: A student uses AI to “mark” their work and provide feedback for improvement. What is the acceptability of this practice in IB assessments?

• Acceptable, as it enhances learning and provides diverse feedback.

• Not acceptable, as it violates the 'one set of written feedback' rule.

• Acceptable, as long as the student is supervised by a teacher.

• Not acceptable, because AI cannot provide any useful feedback.

#13: A student uses AI to generate a template for the structure of their essay.

• Acceptable if the student acknowledges the use of AI when submitting their work for assessment.

• Unacceptable as it constitutes plagiarism regardless of acknowledgment.

• Only acceptable if the AI-generated content is entirely original and not based on existing works.

• Permissible only if the student uses AI to generate ideas but not the structure.

#2: A student uses AI for a summary of counter-positions or alternative viewpoints on a question or issue and explores these further.

• Acceptable: If the student has used the ideas offered by AI to investigate and understand alternative views similar to how students would explore counter-positions in textbooks.

• Acceptable: If the student presents arguments exactly as presented in a textbook.

• Not acceptable: If the student uses AI-generated content without any further exploration.

• Acceptable: If the student summarizes the AI content without any personal input.

A student asks AI to “reflect” on a topic, process or question and uses this unchanged in their assessment. What is the acceptability of this practice?

• Acceptable, as it saves time for students.

• Not acceptable, as reflection requires personal evaluation and authenticity.

• Acceptable, as AI can provide valuable insights.

• Not acceptable, as it is a common practice among students.