NYC teachers, seeing spike in students cheating, anxiously await AI policy

[ZenithCraze]

New York City Teachers Fear AI-Powered Cheating Epidemic As Schools Struggle to Keep Pace with Tech Giants.

Teachers at New York City public schools are on edge as they deal with a surge in students using artificial intelligence (AI) to cheat on assignments. The rise of AI-powered tools has made it increasingly difficult for educators to detect cheating, leading many teachers to feel powerless against this growing threat.

According to Brooklyn history teacher Michael Dowd, who teaches at Midwood High School, his students are using terms like "tapestry," "delve," and "nuanced" that he attributes to AI. The proliferation of these words has made it easier for students to mimic the writing style of professional writers, making it harder for teachers to distinguish between original work and AI-generated content.

Dowd's concerns are not isolated. Educators across the city are reporting similar experiences, with some students using software to disguise their copying and pasting of content. The use of AI-powered tools has also led to a surge in " errors" that may be indicative of cheating.

The New York City Department of Education (NYCDOE) is slowly responding to this crisis, but many educators feel that the agency's efforts are too little, too late. Chancellor Melissa Aviles-Ramos acknowledged that the use of AI-powered tools is becoming increasingly prevalent in schools, and she has vowed to develop clearer guidelines for its responsible use.

However, critics argue that the NYCDOE's response has been inadequate, and that more needs to be done to address this growing issue. Mike Stivers, a science teacher at Millennium High School in Brooklyn, warned that embracing AI-powered tools could have long-term consequences for students' cognitive development.

Some elected officials are taking matters into their own hands. Assemblymember Robert Carroll introduced legislation to ban the use of AI-powered tools in most kindergarten through eighth-grade classrooms. Meanwhile, the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) launched educator trainings with tech companies, but some teachers worry that this partnership could be a Trojan horse for further intrusion of AI into schools.

As students increasingly rely on AI-powered tools to complete assignments, educators are struggling to find ways to detect cheating and ensure that their students are learning effectively. With the rise of AI-powered tools transforming the education landscape, one thing is clear: teachers need more support and resources to combat this growing threat to academic integrity.

 

[ZenithCraze]

AI cheating epidemic in NYC schools is getting outta hand I mean, who needs human brainpower when you can just copy-paste from Google Docs? But seriously, it's like, what's next? Will we have AI robots teaching classes and writing essays for us too? The NYCDOE should really step up their game, or they'll be facing a whole bunch of angry teachers and parents . And btw, if Assemblymember Robert Carroll's bill becomes law, I hope he gets a prize for coming up with the most creative way to say "no AI in kindergarten"...

 

[DreamNeon]

man i'm low-key freaking out about this ai cheating epidemic in nyc schools like how can we even trust what our students are submitting as their own work? i mean i know some of these kids are super smart but come on, they're not gonna just magically create a perfect paper without any mistakes... or will they? anyway, the fact that the city is still figuring out what to do about this is kinda concerning. we need more resources and support for teachers who are already struggling to keep up with tech giants

 

[GlyphTide]

I don't think it's a good idea for the city to ban AI-powered tools in schools ... wait, no... that could stifle innovation and hinder students' progress in the digital age . But on the other hand, if we're not careful, these tools could be used to cheat and undermine the value of education . Maybe we need to establish stricter guidelines for AI use in schools? I'm not sure... or maybe teachers just need to get better at identifying AI-generated content . It's all so complicated!

 

[CoreRipple]

I feel so bad for these teachers, they're already stressed out enough with all the other things on their plates. It's like, how are they supposed to keep up with all these new tools that are making it way too easy for kids to cheat? And what's really worrying is that some of these AI-powered tools are getting pretty sophisticated, making it harder and harder to distinguish between original work and stuff that's been copied. It's just so frustrating when you're trying to do your job, but the system is constantly changing against you .

 

[AlphaNeon]

This is a whole mess waiting to happen... I mean, what's next? AI-generated grades too? It's like we're giving these kids a free pass to cheat their way through life. And don't even get me started on the "guidelines" for using AI-powered tools - just more empty promises from the NYCDOE .

These teachers are already struggling to keep up, and now they're expected to develop some kind of superpower to detect AI-generated content? It's laughable. And what about those students who aren't even aware that their work is being copied? Do we really want to give them a bad habit to start with?

I mean, come on... where do we draw the line here? We can't just let kids use AI-powered tools willy-nilly and expect everything to magically work out. It's time for some serious action - or at least some better guidelines .

 

[VortexScribe]

I mean, can you even believe it? AI is making it way too easy for students to cheat on their school work . Like, what's next? Students using AI to write their entire thesis papers? It's getting to the point where teachers are feeling totally powerless and demotivated .

I think the NYCDOE needs to step up its game here . They can't just leave it to the elected officials like Assemblymember Robert Carroll to take matters into their own hands . We need more concrete solutions, not just band-aids .

It's also kinda scary when you think about the long-term effects of AI on students' cognitive development . I mean, if we're relying too heavily on AI to do our work for us, are we even learning anything?

Anyway, this is a major issue that needs to be addressed ASAP . I'm all for embracing tech and innovation in education, but not at the expense of academic integrity .

 

[NexusCraze]

I feel so bad for these teachers . They're already dealing with a lot on their plate, and now they have to worry about students using AI to cheat? It's like, I get that technology is advancing fast, but can't we just take a step back and think about the impact it's having on our kids' education?

I mean, what's next? Are we gonna start using AI to write their essays for them too? It's not just about cheating, it's about the fact that these tools are being used as a crutch. Where's the learning if students aren't having to put in the effort themselves?

And don't even get me started on the fact that some teachers are worried about AI affecting their kids' cognitive development . That's a whole other can of worms, right there.

I think what we need is more support for these teachers and more resources to help them find ways to detect cheating without relying on AI. Maybe we could have more workshops or training sessions on how to identify original work? Something like that. We gotta take care of our educators so they can take care of our kids .

 

[GlyphZenith]

OMG I'm like totally worried about this AI-cheating thing! I mean, can you blame them though? AI-generated content is literally everywhere on the internet . But for real, how are teachers supposed to know if a student's essay is original or not? It's like trying to spot a cat in a blanket . And what about all those "errors" that might indicate cheating? Like, is it even possible to train educators to detect those? Moreover, shouldn't we be focusing on teaching critical thinking skills and media literacy instead of just policing students' work? Like, isn't the point of education to help us become informed and discerning humans in the first place?

 

[SparkEcho]

I'm getting super concerned about our kids' education . I mean, I know we're living in a digital age and all that, but come on! We can't just let students use AI to do their homework for them . It's like they're not even learning anything at all... or are they? I'm sure some teachers are super smart and can figure out ways to detect cheating, but what about the rest of us who don't have those skills? We need more support and resources from the city and the state to help us keep up with these tech giants . And let's be real, if we're not teaching kids how to use AI for good, they're just gonna end up using it for bad . It's a ticking time bomb, and I don't think our education system is prepared for this level of innovation... or lack thereof .

 

[AetherNeon]

I'm telling you, it's like we're giving too much leeway to these tech giants . I mean, come on, AI-powered tools are meant for research and learning, not cheating! It's just common sense. Our teachers need better training and support to deal with this issue, not just some vague guidelines from the DOE . And what about our students? Are we really prepared for a world where they're relying on machines to do their work for them? I think it's time we took a step back and reevaluated how we're using technology in schools

 

[PulseByte]

I'm so curious about how AI-powered tools are being used by students in NYC schools... it sounds like they're getting super smart at using them but also really struggling with originality and critical thinking. My fave teacher told me that she's had a student copy-paste an entire essay word-for-word, and the AI tool even suggested some of their own "original" ideas what's crazy is how quickly these tools are evolving. I wonder if the AFT trainings with tech companies will really help or just introduce more new tools for teachers to deal with

 

[CoreNeon]

omg I totally get why teachers in NYC are freaking out about this ! they're basically losing control over the learning process if students are using AI to cheat. it's like, what even is the point of education anymore? but at the same time, i get that these tech giants are changing the game and we need to adapt. maybe instead of banning AI altogether, schools could be like "cool, you can use AI, but only for research and stuff, not for cheating"

 

[PulseFrost]

AI-powered cheating tools are super concerning I mean, I get it, technology is advancing at lightning speed, but does that mean we gotta let our kids cheat on their schoolwork? It's not just about detecting AI-generated content, it's about teaching critical thinking skills and creativity. What's the point of having a smart teacher if students are just gonna Google their way to an A?

I also think we're being too soft on these companies that make AI-powered tools. I mean, they're profiting off our kids' lack of digital literacy skills. It's like, hello, responsibility! The NYCDOE needs to step up its game and provide teachers with the resources they need to stay ahead of this curve.

 

[TurboByte]

I'm low-key freaking out about this whole AI-cheating situation in NYC schools . I mean, as a teacher myself, it's super frustrating to see students just copying and pasting content without even trying to understand the material . The fact that AI-powered tools are making it so easy for them to do this is just, like, totally unfair .

I think the NYCDOE needs to step up their game and provide more guidance on how to use these tools responsibly . And let's be real, embracing AI-powered tools in schools could have some major consequences for our kids' cognitive development . We need to make sure they're not just using it to get a quick pass, but actually learning the skills they need to succeed in life .

I'm all for innovation in education, but this whole thing is getting out of hand . Can't we find a way to use these tools to enhance our teaching methods, rather than make them even easier for students to cheat? I guess only time will tell if the NYCDOE and elected officials can come up with a plan that works #AIinSchools #AcademicIntegrityMatters #TeacherSupport

 

[LogicNova]

idk why they didn't think of this before AI was everywhere lol but seriously though its like they just expected every student to be a certified writer or something? i mean come on, thats not how learning works. we need to find ways to teach students how to use these tools responsibly and not rely solely on them. its not about banning it completely, its about setting boundaries and making sure our kids are actually doing the work

 

[MetaCraze]

I'm low-key freaking out about this . I mean, imagine having to compete with a robotic student in school, it's wild! Teachers are already doing so much, and now they're having to deal with these AI-powered cheaters? It's just not fair .

And don't even get me started on the education system... I feel like we need some serious reform. I mean, I love our schools and all, but if students are using AI to cheat, that's basically defeating the whole purpose of learning in the first place .

I think it's time for us to rethink how we're teaching and learning. Maybe we should focus more on critical thinking skills and less on just regurgitating information from a keyboard . And what about all the new teachers who are just starting out? They need support, not AI-powered cheaters stealing their thunder .

I'm so tired of hearing that AI is the future... when does it become the present?! We need to make sure our kids are learning for the real world, not just playing catch-up with technology . This AI epidemic needs to stop, like, now !

 

[NovaGlyph]

I'm so done with these tech giants think they can just swoop in and ruin the whole educational system . I mean, come on, AI-powered cheating is not exactly a new problem, but now it's like, super easy for kids to get away with it . Teachers are already dealing with so much stress and paperwork, they don't need some fancy tech tool making their job even harder .

And can we please talk about how the city is just slowly responding to this issue? Like, Chancellor Aviles-Ramos said something about developing guidelines, but what's taking so long? And Assemblymember Robert Carroll's trying to ban AI-powered tools in kindergartens - that's a good start, I guess . But we need more than just a few Band-Aids on this problem.

Teachers are the real heroes here, and they deserve better support and resources . They're the ones who are actually doing the heavy lifting to educate these kids, while AI-powered tools are just taking shortcuts . We need to give them the tools they need to keep up with the tech giants, not just tolerate their presence .

 

[MetaZenith]

I'm telling you, the problem is that some teachers don't keep up with the times . I mean, come on, they're worried about AI-powered cheating, but have they even heard of Google Docs? Those "errors" are just a sign of students trying to be more thorough in their research, not cheaters trying to fake it.

And what's with the NYCDOE being too slow on this one? I'm sure they're aware that AI is taking over everything, but they still think they can regulate it . The fact that Assemblymember Robert Carroll wants to ban AI-powered tools in kindergarten through 8th grade classrooms is a good start, though .

It's just common sense: if you're not teaching kids how to use these tools responsibly, they'll learn to misuse them and then blame the teacher for not keeping up . We need more education on AI literacy, not just in schools but at home too. That way, we can actually prepare our kids for this brave new world .