How to Use AI in School Without Cheating: The Line Between Helpful Study Tools and Academic Dishonesty

Generative AI tools are continuing to grow in popularity. With access becoming easier due to free apps and websites emerging, students are using more AI tools than ever to aid them in their school work. Some of these tools include:

• ChatGPT
• Claude
• Gemini
• Perplexity

Learners are using these types of platforms to make study plans, create systems that work for them, quiz themselves on what they’re learning, help make outlines for essays, and much more! To put this further in perspective, as of 2024, 48% of Penn Foster students surveyed* said they are using AI as a study tool, while 32% said they use some form of AI for progression feedback.

Read more: How to Prepare for College in High School (A Checklist for Online Students)

There is a difference between using a resource to help you study or gather your thoughts for an assignment and having it write all or parts of it for you. So, what qualifies as ethical use of AI for students, and when does it fall into cheating territory?

Did you know… AI chatbots like ChatGPT are language learning models and can’t discern between fact and fiction, so they may respond to your questions with inaccurate data or facts? It’s called hallucinating, and it’s why it’s best to use AI as a jumping-off point more than a way to gather information on a topic for a school assignment.

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Something that educators should be excited about is the use of personalized, one-on-one tutoring with chatbots. In-person tutors are expensive and aren’t always accessible in rural areas.

As Dr. Andy Shean, Chief Learning Officer at Penn Foster, explains in a conversation about AI and education, there’s “inequity in [in-person tutoring], and so you fast forward to AI, and to me it’s the beginning of one-on-one tutoring for everybody… there’s a real democratization and at least what I view as the potential of AI.”

AI chatbots like ChatGPT are going to level the playing field. Now, everyone has access to one-on-one help 24 hours a day. So, how do you use generative AI to help you in school–the right, honest way?

Researching can be daunting since it requires a lot of reading and rereading, along with annotating passages to cite in your papers. An AI tool like Humata.AI, Wordtune Read, and some premium ChatGPT plugins act as research assistants that summarize your research to understand better and find what you’re looking for. You can upload academic papers and ask questions to find the information within the document instead of searching the web at large, where results will be affected by AI’s limitations to recognize researched facts over opinions.

Studying used to involve hours of tedious flashcard making to help with rote memorization. With generative AI, chatbots can create digital flashcards and even multiple-choice quizzes–within minutes–if you copy and paste your study guide into the chatbox. Then, you can prompt it to ask questions without multiple-choice answers to ensure you have a good grasp of the material [1].

Read more: 10 Study Tips from Real Students (Study Guide)

Here are some FAQs about using generative AI in school:

Using AI-generated content in academic work is plagiarism unless properly cited. However, it’s acceptable to use AI for brainstorming and idea generation as long as the student writes the final work and showcases their understanding.

Using AI to generate parts or the entirety of an assignment is considered academic dishonesty according to Penn Foster's academic policy, as it misrepresents the student's own work and abilities. However, AI can be ethically used for brainstorming, creating outlines, and learning citation styles, as long as it doesn’t replace the student’s own work.

While AI is a great tool for studying, it’s important to use it as such rather than as a replacement for original thought and comprehension. Ultimately, the onus lies with students and educators to uphold academic integrity, using AI as a guide rather than a ghostwriter, ensuring a future where technology and education coexist to make a brighter, smarter future.

Generative AI is not going anywhere. It will almost be unavoidable to use it in school as a tool and aid. Increasing and improving your AI literacy can only help as you move through your academic career and prepare for your post academic future, which will also likely include AI of some sort. The important thing is to use it ethically and safely.

At Penn Foster, using artificial intelligence tools like ChatGPT to write all or part of an assignment is considered academic dishonesty. This is no different than submitting someone else’s work as your own.

Writing your own assignments isn’t just a requirement, it’s how you demonstrate your understanding, critical thinking, and ability to communicate what you've learned. Letting AI do that for you short-circuits the learning process and violates our academic integrity standards.

Acceptable uses of AI tools at Penn Foster include, but are not limited to:

• Generating ideas or brainstorming
• Structuring responses or developing outlines
• Clarifying complex topics
• Summarizing or paraphrasing material
• Practicing citation formats

If a student is suspected of using AI or plagiarizing, they are notified and must respond in writing.

The Academic Review Board reviews the case and can issue disciplinary action — including termination of enrollment.

Instructors use Grammarly’s plagiarism tool to check for originality.

Less than 20% flagged? The work is graded per the rubric, unless clear copy-paste is found, then it receives 1% and an academic warning.

More than 20% copied? Automatic 1% grade and formal warning.

Students have access to an entire library of resources, with a section emphasizing AI use, they can take advantage of at Penn Foster. More information about our academic policies, including AI use and academic integrity, can be found in our student catalog.

Unlock the potential of AI for studying and take your education to the next level. Our accredited programs may help you develop the skills and knowledge you need to succeed in today's world. Request more information or call us today 1-888-427-6500, and let's talk about how Penn Foster can help you reach your full potential.

Sources:

* Data from a survey of all Penn Foster Group students conducted in January 2025.

Chen, B. X. (2023, June 30). Don’t Use A.I. to Cheat in School. It’s Better for Studying. The New York Times.