University faculties and administrators have been working themselves into a frenzy over the last several years over the cheating possibilities that AI has opened up. Instructors are convinced students are using software for everything from solving calculus equations to writing research papers, and they're sure every student is doing it.
You can probably guess what kind of atmosphere this level of paranoia breeds. Campuses across the country have banned the use of programs like Notion AI. They've purchased AI detection software—AI to catch AI—and they run every exam and homework assignment through it. When they think they've caught someone, they're quick to accuse. They rush investigations and hearings. Convinced they can make an example of whoever they've caught, they impose punishments completely disproportionate to offenses.
You do not want to try to defend yourself in this kind of environment. You need a professional in your corner, someone who understands the academic universe and who has your best interests in mind. The Lento Law Firm's Student Defense Team knows what you're up against. We've devoted our careers to protecting student rights, and we're always on your side, no matter what the circumstances.
What can we do for you? Find out by calling 888-535-3686, or take time right now to tell us about your case.
Just What is Notion AI?
Let's not fool ourselves. We know, and you know, that Notion AI can be used to answer homework questions and write term papers. It doesn't have to be used that way, though. There are some important legitimate uses for this program.
As with most artificial intelligence, Notion AI is designed to make work more efficient and convenient. The program actually offers a whole host of tools for working with text and images. It can transcribe the audio from a company meeting, analyze a prospective logo, offer suggestions, or compile information from multiple documents into a single report.
The problem with using Notion AI on campus is that it's designed to make work more efficient and convenient. That's fine if it's automating a task you don't need to know how to do. A citation generator, for instance, isn't going to rob you of the chance to learn how to write citations. As long as you understand the concept of citations, professors don't insist you know where to put every space and period anymore. If, on the other hand, you need to know how to do whatever it is that Notion AI is doing for you, the program undermines the very nature of education itself.
Using and Misusing Notion AI
The first step in avoiding an academic misconduct charge is simply not to commit academic misconduct. We know—sometimes that's easier said than done. The line between use and misuse of an AI is often razor-thin, and it's easy to make mistakes. There are some best practices you can put in place, though, to help you minimize those mistakes.
- Make sure you understand the concept of “academic misconduct.” Most students recognize that cheating and plagiarism are “examples” of misconduct, but they don't always stop to consider what misconduct itself actually means. The goal is to complete your coursework and earn your degree while avoiding any action that might give you an unfair advantage.
- Fair enough. What does "unfair advantage" mean, though? For that, you may need to consider the purpose of a given assignment. What is it your instructor wants you to learn, and how would using AI prevent you from learning it? That's going to vary with every assignment. If you're learning to do addition, access to a calculator is necessarily going to interfere with that learning. On the other hand, if you're learning to do differential equations, a calculator can be a useful tool and isn't going to stunt your intellectual growth. Similarly, you might reasonably use Notion AI to organize and summarize source material for a research paper. If you're working on an annotated bibliography, though, Notion AI summaries are doing your work for you.
- Finally, and most importantly, don't be afraid to ask. Your instructors can tell you exactly what they do and don't think is acceptable use of Notion AI. They may bar it outright, but if you explain what you're doing, you may also find they're willing to let you use the program for appropriate tasks.
Detection Methods
It's getting harder and harder to get away with cheating and plagiarism. The advent of so-called AI detectors has helped to level the playing field for instructors. GPTZero, Turnitin AI, Copyleaks, and programs like them use sophisticated algorithms to identify AI text patterns.
The trouble is, these detectors can get things wrong, too. What happens, for instance, when a sentence or two from a Notion AI-generated summary makes its way into the final draft of your paper? When faculty don't take the time to check through the reports these programs generate, they can sometimes wind up accusing perfectly innocent students of cheating.
The consequences can be serious. At a minimum, you can expect classroom sanctions like lower assignment grades or lower course grades. Lately, though, some colleges and universities have been imposing even stiffer penalties in an effort to scare students away from AI. Even first offenses are sometimes punished with suspension and even dismissal.
This is one reason why it's so important you contact the Lento Law Firm the moment you're charged. You cannot afford to risk your future by trying to handle your defense yourself.
The Lento Law Firm is on Your Side
The line between use and misuse can be razor-thin when it comes to AI technology like Notion AI. That means it's easy for you to make honest mistakes. It's easy for instructors to get things wrong. And the truth is, when you see just what this software can do, it can be hard to hit that delete button and make yourself write the paper from scratch. You may actually have committed some form of academic misconduct.
So what do you do if it happens to you--if you're suddenly facing an allegation of classroom dishonesty?
- First, keep your cool. Getting upset can lead you to do and say things that may ultimately harm your defense.
- Second, hold on to everything. It's never a bad idea to save classwork. Every piece of work you complete is evidence of your abilities as a student, evidence you can use to prove your innocence.
- Finally, and most importantly, contact the Lento Law Firm immediately. Our Student Defense Team was founded to protect student rights, and we take that job very seriously. We know the law, and we know how your school's judicial system operates. We also know what kinds of issues tend to come up when technology is involved in the learning process.
Whatever your situation, you deserve fair treatment. We'll make sure you get it. Call 888-535-3686 today to find out what we can do, or take time right now to fill out our online form.
