Use of Artificial Intelligence by students
Advances in Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology have significant implications for the future of education in NSW and globally.
Advances in AI technology have significant implications for the future of education in NSW and globally. Like any technology, AI can be used to augment teaching and learning, curriculum, and pedagogy. AI will never replace strong curriculum, effective assessment and good teaching practices.
NESA has developed a policy on the use of AI in schools. This policy falls under NESA’s existing rules governing academic honesty, and the use of external reference materials and sources in student work. Schools and school sectors remain responsible for policies concerning the use of AI in schools. Schools and teachers will decide how best to use AI to support teaching and learning, in accordance with sector policies.
AI has implications for academic honesty (see ACE 10.1 ). Unapproved use of AI in the completion of assignments is a breach of academic integrity. All work presented in assessment tasks and external examinations (including submitted works and practical examinations) must be a student’s own or must be acknowledged appropriately (see ACE 10.1.1).
All students must complete All My Own Work (AMOW), or its equivalent, to be eligible for entry into a Preliminary and/or HSC course, and for the award of the HSC. NESA updated AMOW topics in Term 3, 2024 which includes a new topic covering ethical use of AI. NESA advises that schools should incorporate instruction on how to acknowledge all materials appropriately, including AI, in alignment with NESA’s published rules and guidelines. NESA also provides resources to support the teaching of correct source referencing. Schools should have practices in place ensuring that students have confidence that plagiarism controls will be fairly applied.
Advice for students
Schools are responsible for providing specific advice to students about the use of AI in school-based assessment. Students should be aware of, and comply with, their school’s policy for using AI.
NESA’s rules regarding cheating and plagiarism continue to apply to AI (see ACE 10.1.1).
Advice for teachers
Teachers should be aware of, and comply with, sector and school policies for using AI, which can be used to enhance students’ learning experiences in approved and monitored contexts. In line with good assessment practice, schools should implement a variety of assessment tasks that enable students to demonstrate their learning against achievement standards in different ways and at regular intervals, either with or without AI (See ACE 2.1.2).
All assessment should validly assess student learning. Teachers are the best judge of student work, recognising student voice and assessing authenticity of their work.
Schools need to develop policies and procedures to support teachers in the use of AI. Students should be confident that plagiarism controls will be fairly applied in all cases.
This policy should be read in conjunction with the following ACE Rules: