Isn't technology amazing? You can buy refrigerators now that know when you're running low on milk, contact the grocery for you, and have a new gallon delivered without you even knowing it happened.
On the other hand, technology complicates life, too. Nowhere is that truer than on college and university campuses. Technology—AI in particular—is getting awfully good at doing the things we do: reading, researching, writing, solving equations. Take Symbolab, for instance. It's a fantastic AI calculator. Used correctly, it can help you better understand your math homework and improve your exam scores. Using it "correctly," though, can be tricky, and if you should be caught using it incorrectly, the consequences can be devastating both for your academic and professional careers.
If you've been accused of academic misconduct over your use of Symbolab, you don't want to try to take on your school alone. You need help from someone qualified to handle university misconduct charges. The Lento Law Firm's Student Defense Team was founded to do exactly that. We're defense attorneys, but we're focused on protecting student rights. We know how your school's disciplinary system operates, and we know the central issues related to campus technology offenses.
We've helped hundreds of students defend themselves. What can we do for you? Call 888-535-3686 to find out, or take time right now to tell us about your case.
Symbolab
Symbolab is an AI designed to help users with all things mathematical. Yep, it has a calculator function, but that's just for starters. You can use it for sophisticated finance calculations or to solve complex physics equations. There are graphing functions, geometry solutions, and a program that makes mincemeat out of word problems. One Symbolab tab promises to give you “step-by-step solutions to any math problem.” Pretty handy if you've got a thorny problem to handle on the job or if you're puzzled by a particular mathematical concept and could use a clear explanation. You can understand, though, why a claim like that might strike fear into the heart of your Calc II professor.
What Qualifies as Symbolab Misuse?
The dangers associated with Symbolab are probably pretty obvious from the program's description. If you've got access to Symbolab, you can get it to work through any homework problem your instructors might manage to come up with. And if you can find some way to sneak a peek at the app while you're in the middle of an exam, you could be basically invincible.
Of course, none of this means you should avoid Symbolab altogether. Like most AI, it has its uses, even for university students. If you're struggling to understand a mathematical concept, having access to step-by-step instructions for how to solve a problem can be invaluable. If you want to avoid an academic misconduct allegation, though, you may want to consider how you use Symbolab.
- Think about Symbolab's purpose when you're using it. This AI program wasn't designed to give students easy answers. It was designed to supplement learning. If you find yourself simply getting answers for assignments, you're almost certainly misusing it.
- Minimize your Symbolab use. Push yourself to work through problems before you turn to Symbolab. This will help you improve your problem-solving abilities and limit the chance you'll misuse the software.
- If you have any reservations about using Symbolab for an assignment, ask your instructor. If nothing else, you'll impress them as a student who cares about honesty and integrity.
- Keep in mind the function of education. Grades matter, of course, but grades aren't why you go to college. You go to college to learn—to master information and skills. If you feel you're not doing that, it's probably time to adjust how you're using technology.
What Do You Do If You're Accused?
No matter how careful you are about how you use Symbolab or how honest and up-front you try to be with your instructors, you could still find yourself accused. Misunderstandings happen, and any time a new technology is involved, it can be difficult to know where the dividing line is between acceptable and unacceptable use.
At the same time, the consequences of academic misconduct can be severe. The minimum penalty in such cases is usually a lower grade on the assignment. You could fail the class entirely, though, or, worse, receive a suspension dismissal. The fact is, even a warning can be dangerous if it shows up on your transcript. A record of cheating can cost you scholarships, interfere with graduate school applications, and even ruin your chances at a top job out of college.
Luckily, colleges and universities can't simply charge you and sanction you. They must provide you with due process. You have important rights, like the right to a presumption of innocence. In addition, your school must conduct some type of investigation before it proceeds against you. It must have clear evidence in order to proceed to a hearing, and you should have the opportunity to refute that evidence at the hearing.
Yet, while you do have some important rights, it can be hard figuring out how to use them appropriately to protect yourself. That's where the Lento Law Firm comes in. We've worked on hundreds of misconduct cases, and we know how to navigate the system. We can make sure you're prepared for whatever you have to face and show exactly how to use your school's judicial system to your best advantage.
Responding to a Charge.
The best way to avoid an AI-based plagiarism charge is to avoid AI-based plagiarism. Use programs only as they were intended. Limit just how much you use them. And always keep the goal in mind: you're not after grades; you're after a genuine education.
That said, if you're facing an allegation, there are some things you can do to maximize your chances of a successful defense.
- Stay calm. Overreacting can often make the situation worse. Take all allegations seriously, but trust in the process to clear you of charges.
- Save everything associated with the case, including all of your work. In fact, it's a good idea these days to hold on to all of your coursework. You can never tell when an essay you wrote may be exactly what you need to prove your academic abilities and refute a charge.
- Most importantly, contact the Lento Law Firm as soon as possible. The issues related to AI cheating and plagiarism can be difficult to unravel, and you're going to need all the help you can get working your way through your school's judicial processes.
The Lento Law Firm has helped hundreds of students defend themselves from college and university charges. We can help you to do the same. Call 888-535-3686 today, or take time right now to fill out our online form.
