Technology certainly has the power to simplify our lives. There are refrigerators out there that know when you're running low on milk and can add it to your grocery list. Better yet, they can contact your grocery store for you and have a new gallon delivered by the afternoon. One less chore means more time for relaxing.
On the other hand, technology can also complicate our lives. Right now, that's what's happening on college and university campuses around the country as faculty and students debate—and sometimes outright go to war over- the relative merits and dangers of AI like Wolfram Alpha.
In part, the complications spring from the simplicity. AI is getting pretty good at doing the things we do, like conducting research, compiling information, and—in the case of Wolfram Alpha—solving complex equations. That creates a serious conundrum: should we rely on technology to make life easier, or when we do that, are we in some way “cheating”?
A fascinating ideological question, but one that can take on very practical implications if you should find yourself actually charged with cheating. Academic misconduct carries serious penalties, not the least of which is a permanent black mark on your record. If you've been charged for your use of Wolfram Alpha, you can't afford to take the situation lightly. You need a Lento Law Firm attorney in your corner immediately, if not sooner. Our Student Defense Team knows how disciplinary processes and procedures work at your school, and we're up-to-date on all the parameters involved in AI use.
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.
Wolfram Alpha
Wolfram Alpha bills itself as an “answer engine.” That is, where Google and Bing perform searches, retrieving content in response to a query, Wolfram Alpha returns concrete, number-based answers to queries. Ask the AI to provide a list of Michael Jordan's assist stats over the course of his career, and the information pops up in milliseconds. Oh, and it's also pretty good at solving equations–even the most complex equations.
In fact, not only will Wolfram Alpha spit out answers to calculus problems, but it will also provide a complete explanation for how it solved those problems. Maybe you can understand why college math instructors might be a bit wary of software like this. Wolfram Alpha can turn a stack of homework problems into an afternoon of online gaming in no time flat.
Use and Misuse When It Comes to Wolfram Alpha
Is it possible to use Wolfram Alpha appropriately? Of course. Because it offers explanations to the problems it solves, it makes for an excellent resource in better understanding mathematical principles. Struggling with a knotty homework problem? Wolfram Alpha can solve it for sure, but it can also help you make sense of it.
The dangers of Wolfram Alpha should be fairly obvious, though. If you're using it inappropriately, it makes homework obsolete, and it can undermine the entire point of an exam.
The trick to avoiding a cheating charge, then, is in thinking through how you're using the technology.
- Always consider how and why you're using Wolfram Alpha. That may involve carefully considering the purpose of education in the first place. If you're using AI to help you better learn how to solve an equation, then using the program is akin to consulting a tutor. If you're using it so you don't have to go to the trouble of solving an equation yourself, you're minimizing what you learn, and that's counter to your educational goals.
- Minimize how often and to what degree you use Wolfram Alpha. The more you come to rely on the program, the less you'll push yourself to learn mathematics yourself. Make yourself work through a problem--take time with it--before you consult the AI.
- Visit your instructors during office hours and talk with them candidly about Wolfram Alpha. Ask their opinion and advice. You'll get concrete answers to what they think qualifies as cheating (it turns out the answer can vary), and you'll avoid having to explain yourself later
What Do You Do If You're Accused?
Following all of these suggestions may not eliminate the threat of an academic misconduct charge. Misunderstandings happen, and it can often be difficult for students and instructors to decide where the line is between honest and dishonest use of a technology like Wolfram Alpha.
Calling these disputes “misunderstandings” is a bit deceptive, though. At a minimum, a cheating charge carries with it a penalty like a lower assignment grade. It could result in a lower course grade or even a course failure. Beyond this, your school could decide to make an example of you and suspend you or even dismiss you outright. And even if all you wind up with is a warning, a record of academic misconduct on your transcript can cost you scholarships, graduate school opportunities, and even jobs.
The good news is that virtually all colleges and universities provide their students with important due process rights, such as the right to a presumption of innocence ("not responsible"), the right to an investigation, and the right to a hearing. The bad news is that campus disciplinary processes can be complicated, and AI issues can increase those complications exponentially. Often, what qualifies as cheating can be a matter of perspective, and if you take on your university alone, guess whose perspective is going to win out?
Lento Law Firm attorneys have a firm grasp of Wolfram Alpha issues. We can explain your actions to an instructor. We can also help you put together a strong defense if that's what's required. We'll make sure you're treated fairly, and we'll use every resource at our disposal to get you the best possible resolution to your case.
Responding to a Charge
The very best way to avoid getting charged with academic misconduct for using an AI program is always going to be using that program appropriately. If you wind up accused anyway, though, what should you do?
- First, 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.
