Teaching Students to Use AI Transparently: A New Approach to Academic Honesty
Students are using artificial intelligence tools whether their professors allow it or not. Rather than fighting this reality, psychology educators are developing a new approach that teaches students how to use AI ethically and transparently.
The Reality of AI in Education
The rise of accessible AI tools has created challenges across universities. Students can now generate essays, solve problems, and complete assignments with AI assistance in seconds. Traditional approaches of banning AI haven't proven effective, as students continue using these tools regardless of institutional policies.
Psychology instructors are responding by embracing a different strategy: teaching students to disclose their AI use openly and thoughtfully. This approach treats AI as a professional tool that requires skill and ethical consideration, much like how researchers and professionals are beginning to handle AI in their work.
The MInE Framework
Educators are implementing a simple but comprehensive disclosure system called MInE, which stands for Model, Input, and Evaluate. When students use AI for assignments, they must document three key elements:
Model refers to specifying which AI system they used, including the version and date. This matters because different AI tools have varying capabilities and limitations, and these systems update frequently.
Input involves sharing the exact prompts or questions they gave the AI. This transparency allows instructors to understand how students interacted with the technology and ensures students think carefully about their requests.
Evaluate requires students to reflect on their AI use by answering two critical questions: Was their use of AI ethical, and how did they verify the accuracy of the AI's output? This step ensures students take responsibility for fact checking and understanding the content they submit.
Building Professional Skills
This disclosure approach does more than prevent academic dishonesty. It develops skills that students will need in their future careers. Many industries are already implementing AI disclosure requirements, from publishing companies requiring authors to disclose AI use in research papers to courts requiring lawyers to disclose AI assistance in legal documents.
By practicing these disclosures in school, students learn to use AI as a professional tool rather than a shortcut. They develop critical thinking skills by learning to evaluate AI output against reliable sources and course materials. They also strengthen their communication abilities by learning to prompt AI effectively and explain their processes clearly.
Addressing Ethical Concerns
The disclosure system also creates opportunities for important conversations about AI ethics. Students learn about data privacy concerns, understanding that some AI platforms store and use the information people input. They consider copyright issues, recognizing that AI systems may generate content based on copyrighted material.
Environmental and social impacts become part of the discussion too. Students can learn about the significant computational resources required to run AI systems and the human costs involved in training these technologies.
Supporting Learning Rather Than Replacing It
When students must disclose and evaluate their AI use, they're more likely to use these tools to support their learning rather than replace their thinking. The requirement to fact check AI output against course materials means students still need to engage with their textbooks and lectures. The reflection process helps them identify when AI is helpful and when they should rely on their own knowledge and creativity.
This approach also helps students develop what educators call "information literacy" – the ability to identify reliable information and think critically about sources. As AI becomes more prevalent, these skills become increasingly valuable.
A Flexible Solution
AI disclosure statements work across different types of assignments and class sizes. Instructors can adapt the basic framework to fit their specific courses and requirements. The approach is straightforward enough that students can understand and implement it quickly, yet comprehensive enough to promote ethical and thoughtful AI use.
Rather than viewing AI as a threat to education, this approach treats it as a tool that requires skill and judgment to use effectively. Students learn to be transparent about their processes, think critically about AI output, and develop professional practices they'll use throughout their careers.
Preparing for the Future
As AI becomes more integrated into professional life, students need to learn how to use these tools responsibly. The disclosure approach prepares them for workplaces where AI transparency is becoming standard practice. It also helps them develop problem solving skills and creative thinking by encouraging them to reflect on their process and iterate their approach.
This shift represents a move from prohibition to education, helping students become thoughtful users of AI technology rather than trying to prevent them from using it altogether. The goal is not to eliminate AI from student work but to ensure students use it ethically, transparently, and in ways that support rather than replace their learning.
Overono, A. L., & Ditta, A. S. (2025). The use of AI disclosure statements in teaching: developing skills for psychologists of the future. Teaching of Psychology, 52(3), 273-278.
