Students use AI and many of them probably use it more often and more confidently than we do. For some teachers, that’s scary. For me, it’s good news. Why? Because it means we’re dealing with students who are already engaging with powerful tools.
But here’s the catch: not all students use AI in ethical ways. Cheating is easier now than ever before. And I’m not just pointing fingers at students. The blame, to some degree, falls on us as educators too.
Yes, students need to understand academic integrity and the responsible use of AI. That’s why I keep emphasizing the importance of co-creating an AI classroom policy. You’ve seen me talk about this in previous posts. This conversation has to happen early and openly. Students should explicitly know what is acceptable use of AI and what is not.
But that’s just one side of the issue.
The other side is us. Teachers who are still teaching and assessing like it’s 2010. Some still think AI is a fad and will magically disappear. I don’t think so. Generative AI isn’t going anywhere. And if you’re still designing assessments the same way you did before ChatGPT, then I’ll say it plainly: it’s time to update your strategies.
We need to stop pretending that traditional take-home essays, Googleable quiz questions, or copy-paste assignments still work. They don’t, not when students can get a decent AI-generated answer in under a minute.
That’s why we need to start thinking about AI-proof assessment; a way of designing tasks that make it harder for AI to replace student thinking, and easier for students to engage meaningfully with the work.
Here are six simple but powerful tips I came across from GPTZero that are worth trying out:
1. Ask students to write about personal experiences and reflect on their own learning.
2. Have them critique a ChatGPT-generated answer. Let them spot the flaws.
3. Use peer discussion and peer assessment tools. Learning becomes visible when it’s shared.
4. Do the reverse: give lectures as homework and keep assessment work in class.
5. Ask for multiple drafts, with feedback and revisions built into the process.
6. Explore creative formats: videos, posters, presentations, podcasts; formats that are harder for AI to replicate well.
As much as I like to call them “anti-AI” strategies but in fact they’re just better assessment practices in general. They build thinking, creativity, reflection, and collaboration. And yes, they also happen to be much harder for AI to do on behalf of your students.
So next time you plan an assignment, stop and ask: Could ChatGPT do this easily? If the answer is yes, it’s time to redesign.
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