Schools, universities consider more in-class, pen & paper assessment to combat AI cheating

A ‘greater use’ of pen and paper tests has been flagged as universities struggle to deal with students turning to AI tech to help them cheat.

Australia’s leading research-intensive universities are struggling to come up with ways to catch cheats using artificial intelligence (AI) technology to write their assignments.

The Group of Eight, which includes the University of Queensland, has flagged a return to old-school practices, including the “greater use of pen and paper exams and tests” to tackle the issue.

Queensland Secondary Principals’ Association president Mark Breckenridge said students using AI for assessment had become an increasing topic of conversation in the past year.

“It’s a bit of an unknown environment, but it is certainly an emerging challenge we need to consider,” he said.

“There is quite a bit of software out there now to detect plagiarism, which Queensland schools are using.

Some examples of artificial intelligence cheating caught in universities show no differences to authentic and original student work. Picture: Supplied

“I know within the Department of Education, this (AI) software is blocked on all student devices, but students can access what they want once they walk out of school.

“I think schools will look to the likes of the companies that have developed anti plagiarism software to continue the work they have done.

“Some may even already have in their sights software to detect whether a piece of assessment has been written by an AI.”

Mr Breckenridge said he was aware of AI cheating examples in universities, but did not believe any school students had been caught.

Queensland Secondary Principals‘ Association president Mark Breckenridge. Picture: Richard Gosling/AAP

“From the examples I’ve seen, you can’t tell them apart from a real assignment (from one completed by a student),” he said.

“I imagine if it‘s happening at a university level, it’s a heartbeat away from being at school level.”

Mr Breckenridge said he expected AI advancements would trigger schools and education departments to rethink assessment.

He said: “Are people going to be passing courses to become a teacher, lawyer, or mechanic using AI? And what does that mean for … academic standards?

“It could mean more assessments done orally or in class or under supervision.

“But then the challenge is fitting that into class time.”

Queensland Secondary Principals‘ Association president Mark Breckenridge said he expected AI advancements would trigger schools and education departments to rethink assessment.

Group of Eight deputy chief executive Dr Matthew Brown said Go8 universities were addressing AI.

“Our universities have revised how they will run assessments in 2023 – including supervised exams and tests with ‘Live+’ proctoring used for offshore and online students, and in-person supervision for most onshore students, greater use of pen and paper exams and tests, and limited use of ‘Record+’ exams and tests only for units with low integrity risks,” he said.

Live+ exams involve a human supervisor monitoring students and often involve them asking students to move their webcam around their room to check for prohibited material.

Record+ exams do not involve a human supervisor and use AI software to verify the student’s identity and monitor whether the student moves out of camera view or talks during the exam.