While artificial intelligence commands many headlines, the tools that complement AI can be just as powerful as AI-powered educational resources. Desmos is a suite of math-focused tools that aren’t obviously powered by artificial intelligence, but can be easily paired with other AI-centric tools—and therefore may be lumped into cases against students accused of cheating.

If you or your student is accused of using any Desmos product in a manner that breaks the school’s rules, serious discipline could follow. Our firm understands the suite of Desmos products, how they work, and how they differ from tools that are more overtly powered by AI. We also understand how a student can easily justify using Desmos products in their work.

Even if you feel your use of one or more Desmos tools was within the parameters of your school’s behavioral policies, the school’s disciplinary body could take a different stance. That’s where we come in.

Call the LLF National Law Firm’s Student Defense Team today at 888-535-3686 or contact us online to discuss the next steps in your defense. Contact us even if you have not yet faced formal discipline, but you have any reason to believe disciplinary proceedings could come.

A Brief Look at the Desmos Suite of Educational Resources

If you’re reading, we assume you’re already familiar with Desmos. That said, it’s worth reviewing this topic briefly, as there’s a vast landscape of similarly named resources, and there’s no harm in clarity:

  • Desmos is not a single product, but instead a company offering a suite of math-focused resources for students and educators
  • The company’s offerings include a digital graphing calculator, a scientific calculator, a matrix calculator, a geometry tool, a 3D calculator, and test practice
  • Desmos has formal partnerships with the likes of CollegeBoard, Cambridge University Press & Assessment, Pearson, and McGraw-Hill

Desmos’ tools have become ingrained in the way that many educators teach and assess students, especially in digital-first learning environments. Most students are not only permitted to use Desmos tools, but are even encouraged or required to do so.

Some AI Tools Often Used Alongside Desmos

There is a specific point where Desmos products and allegations of cheating are most likely to intersect: Where AI enters.

Before artificial intelligence became so prominent, students generally had to use Desmos’s calculators manually. With the rise of tools like MathGPT, Mathos AI, and even more generalized resources like ChatGPT, students can use these resources to:

  • Solve assessments administered through Desmos
  • Provide step-by-step instructions for graphing
  • Have AI provide the equation that inspired a line, parabola, or other visual representation provided by Desmos

Yes, a student might use artificial intelligence to circumvent steps their professor expected them to complete manually. This use might be considered academic dishonesty.

Many students, though, might use AI-powered resources to enhance or augment the Desmos learning experience without engaging in any dishonest behavior. Yet, even in these cases, the student might find themselves facing suspension or other severe penalties based on acts they may or may not have committed.

Why You Might Be Accused of Wrongdoing for Using Desmos (Possibly in Conjunction with Other Tools)

Though artificial intelligence has undoubtedly changed the nature and number of student disciplinary issues, the fundamentals remain the same. When a student is accused of engaging in some act or omission they should not have—like using AI resources in conjunction with Desmos tools—we may determine that:

  • The student knowingly engaged in wrongdoing
  • The student unknowingly engaged in wrongdoing
  • The school’s or professor’s policies were not clear enough to determine whether the student engaged in wrongdoing
  • The student did not engage in wrongdoing, and those accusing them of doing so are making a mistake or knowingly pursuing baseless discipline

We will consider each of these possibilities as we evaluate your circumstances. Our Student Defense Team has seen many cases where schools and individual educators fail to develop and share clear, comprehensive policies regarding how students may or may not use AI in their work. For instance, a professor’s policy may not explicitly mention AI or specific tools like the Desmos Graphing Calculator, leaving it up to the student’s judgment whether the use of such a tool is permissible.

We may find such a lack of clear policies in your case, and such ambiguity may be the centerpiece of your defense.

What to Do If You Are Accused of Academic Dishonesty

The first thing we have to emphasize is not to underestimate where any allegation of misconduct can lead. No matter the details or severity of the accusation—or even the legitimacy—any discipline against a student can have long-ranging consequences.

Rather, protect yourself by:

  • Calling the Student Defense Team as soon as possible, as we will waste no time in gathering evidence and forming your defense
  • Not participating in any formal disciplinary proceeding until you have spoken with us
  • Being wary of anyone involved in your disciplinary process, even if you would generally trust that person

The sooner you can retain us, the sooner your rights will be protected and your mind will be at ease. We will handle as much of the disciplinary proceedings as possible so you can focus on your education and personal life.

How the LLF National Law Firm Helps Students Successfully Navigate This Daunting Age of AI

Even though we have been on the front lines of student defense for years, we did not anticipate the extent to which AI would disrupt education and open a whole new can of disciplinary worms. Yet, we have adapted quickly to this new age, and we have already helped many students overcome serious allegations of AI-related wrongdoing.

Our Student Defense Team will advocate for you with disciplinary bodies, advise you to avoid mistakes that might compromise our defense efforts, and ensure that nothing catches you off guard or flat-footed. Of course, we will also create a personalized defense plan based on your unique circumstances.

Call the LLF National Law Firm today at 888-535-3686 or contact us online. Our Student Defense Team is the open ear to consult and the shoulder to lean on when you or your student is accused of doing wrong.

AI Cheating Accusations

Tell About Your Case

The LLF National Law Firm Ensures a Title IX Investigation After a Student is Sexually Assaulted

The superintendent of a school district in Oregon has been charged with obstructing an investigation into sexual assault at a local high school, and the LLF National Law Firm’s Education Law Team is fighting on behalf of an elementary school student in the same district. That student, a third grader, […]

How DEI Rollbacks and Institutional Neutrality Can Bring Disciplinary Action for Students

For the past few years, colleges and universities across the United States have been reexamining their approach to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). In many cases, DEI offices are being scaled back or shut down altogether. At the same time, schools are rolling out new “institutional neutrality” policies, which are […]

Why It’s Risky to Wait to Get Help if Facing Disciplinary Action at University

When a student faces disciplinary action from their college or university, many families prefer to handle it on their own. They assume they can always hire legal help on appeal if the outcome is unfavorable. Unfortunately, that assumption can backfire badly. One of the least understood aspects of university disciplinary […]

New NCAA Legislation: Redefining the Stakes of Academic Misconduct

The NCAA’s head of enforcement has confirmed that academic misconduct is on the rise, with approximately 20 open investigations currently active across the country. As the collegiate landscape shifts due to the House v. NCAA settlement and the professionalization of the “student-athlete” role, a committee of university presidents is drafting […]