AI (Artificial Intelligence) in Assessment

While this space is changing on a daily basis, our aim is to create consistency for students, teachers and parents.  Below is a summary of our approach, particularly related to student assessment for controlled assessment, coursework and NEA (non-examined assessment).

What do we know?

• AI can be an effective tool for teachers and students in educational settings.
• Collingwood supports the appropriate use of Generative AI, while balancing academic authorship and authenticity of student work.
• If students submit AI-generated content (without acknowledgement) as their own work, they are committing plagiarism and can be disqualified from their qualification.
• Collingwood is aware that, currently, tools used to detect plagiarism/AI may incorrectly detect AI use.  As such, we will use several approaches to authenticate student work.

How is Collingwood approaching the authentication of student work in assessment?

• Collingwood's teachers primarily use the planning and drafting process to establish student authorship.
• In addition, assessment items may be uploaded to AI plagiarism detection software which will provide a percentage of suspected AI use.
• Teachers use the percentage as a guide, to consider whether they look further at a student’s response.  As a College, we do not have a percentage tolerance - rather, we use the percentage to inform our understanding of academic authorship and authenticity of student work.
• Students must electronically submit controlled assessment, coursework and NEA (non-examined assessment) so that it can be checked by AI detection software.  They will be advised on how to do so by their teachers.

What are the situations AI could be used inappropriately for assessment?

• If a student uses AI and submits work which is not their own work.  This includes if a student paraphrases AI content, and it is not referenced.
• Incomplete referencing of AI sources: students must appropriately reference where they have used AI.  For instance, if they use AI to find sources of content, the sources must be verified by students and referenced including the date accessed.  Students must keep a copy of the questions and AI responses for reference and authentication purposes.  The copy must be non-editable – such as a screenshot – and provide a brief explanation of how it is used.  This must be submitted with the work.

Where teachers doubt the authenticity of student work submitted for assessment, they will:

• Speak with the student about the work that has been suspected and/or detected as not their original work;
• Use this conversation, along with any planning/draft materials and the information from AI detection software, to determine the work that is original student work;
• If AI misuse is suspected and the student has not signed the declaration of authentication, the College may take steps to resolve the matter by asking students to redact/amend/reference work that is not original.  Teachers will use their professional judgement to make this decision to ensure the student is not unduly advantaged.
• If the declaration of authentication has been signed and AI misuse is 'detected or suspected' by the College, the case must be reported to the relevant exam board.

Our approach is aligned to JCQ guidance (JCQ AI Use in Assessments) and reflects our Centre Malpractice Policy.  We hope this creates some certainty and consistency in this evolving space.