Why Saying “No” to AI is a True “Yes” to Your Student’s Best Learning
Since the introduction of Artificial Intelligence (AI), teachers have come forward with concerns that teens are using AI to complete homework assignments. Here’s what you need to know to help your teen understand AI and its relationship to plagiarism in writing.
AI is everywhere.
And when it comes to teaching teens, it’s no different. AI use has quickly become a number one concern for teachers and parents alike.
Recently, a student submitted a polished, professionally sounding story in an AWA course. On closer examination, it was clear that the work showed signs of AI use — including the tell-tale “level and style change,” where the teen’s content and writing style suddenly became quite different from previously-submitted work. When asked about the new pages, the teen admitted using “an online helper” — an AI chatbot — to craft the story.
Such is the heart of a growing challenge for writing instructors and homeschooling parents. Technology, especially AI, has advanced rapidly, offering teens new tools promising efficiency and easy answers. But at what cost?
AI: Yes or No?
Here at Aquinas Writing Advantage (AWA), our answer to AI use is clear: using AI to brainstorm or complete a student’s writing assignment is not permitted.
Our stance is based on more than rule-creating; we’re committed to raising a generation of critical thinkers who understand how to come up with powerful ideas and communicate clearly and effectively through the written word.
AWA’s newly-released A Guide to Avoiding Academic Dishonesty: Cheating, Plagiarism, and AI lays out a comprehensive approach to plagiarism and AI use. Our belief is that writing is more than producing words; it’s an exercise in thinking, expressing, and growing in the ability to bring clarity and truth to those around us.
Why Not Use AI to Write?
There’s one overarching, critical reason not to use any AI when writing: we don’t want teens to “silence their own voice.” One of the most powerful lines in our Guide states that when students plagiarize or let tools speak for them, teens lose the chance to express their understanding, which is one of the key purposes of a writing assignment.
At AWA, we’re not just teaching your teen to write. We’re helping students learn how to think for themselves — to form ideas, wrestle with complex questions, and grow in virtue. (That’s the reason why we discuss the moral implications of plagiarism in the Guide, too.)
Using someone else’s words (whether a classmate’s, a website’s, or an AI tool’s words) is dishonest and a missed opportunity to develop the teen’s mind and heart. And learning to write with honesty will help your teen become a better communicator, thinker, and disciple of truth.
What Parents Should Know
So, what is the most important information parents need to know about AI and plagiarism? Avoiding plagiarism starts with knowing what is — and what isn’t — considered plagiarism.
AI-generated content that is considered plagiarism falls into three categories:
- Content generated using enhancement tools (like Grammarly and Google’s “Help Me Write”)
- Content creation programs (like ChatGPT, Jasper, and Quillbot)
- And even some translation or citation tools (that go beyond basic support)
A Guide to Avoiding Academic Dishonesty is an excellent resource for helping your teen, giving you a deeper dive into identifying AI tools, how the tools are used, and how they lead to plagiarism.
“Is it ever okay to use AI in school?” In some professional or technical environments, AI can be a helpful aid. But for middle and high school teens who are still forming the habits of careful thinking and original composition, using AI to generate writing short-circuits the learning process. Using AI is not helping your teen think critically and learn effectively.
A Partnership with Parents
At AWA, we also recognize that the lines around technology use are sometimes blurry, which is why AWA’s A Guide to Avoiding Academic Dishonesty includes specific how-to guidance for avoiding plagiarism in all of its forms. For teens, the temptation to cheat or use AI often arises from panic about an assignment that’s due in a day or even a few hours.
When parents are involved, encouraging early starts to completing work (and then checking in often), the teen learns to stay on track, and the temptation to use AI can become less of an issue.
Being involved is a good thing. “But as teens get older, shouldn’t parents let them complete work independently?” In short, yes.
However, the better answer to the question of independence is that “letting go” to autonomy and self-regulation (completing work independently) isn’t as fast or hands-off as we might think. Instead of moving directly from parent-led guidance to self-guided learning, we believe that letting go is a process of mentoring. Starting with working side by side with your teen, parents can gradually move from direct instruction to less oversight.
We encourage you not to waive the all-important step of mentoring! Mentoring your teen within a gradual process of independence is a way to create a lasting relationship.
And even when your teen takes an online course, being involved, especially when it comes to AI use, is crucial during the teenage years.
What Parents Can Do
To avoid plagiarism through AI use, here are three tips to help your student:
- Turn off or block AI tools. Many common programs (like Word or Google Docs) now come with AI built in. These features can often be disabled in the settings.
- Stay involved in the writing process. Especially for younger students, ask to see outlines, brainstorms, and rough drafts. Checkpoints not only guard against dishonesty but also foster genuine learning and growth.
- Check browsing history. You’re not “catching” your student; you’re offering accountability and building trust. If questionable sites for AI use show up when checking a browser, have a conversation. You may uncover areas where your student requires additional support.
For more, check out the guide here.
A Final Word
Raising teens in a digital world filled with shortcuts and distractions is tough. We know you’re diligently walking the teaching-and-learning road with your student, and we’re incredibly grateful to team up with you through AWA’s writing courses.
We’re thankful to you, parents, for partnering with us as we help your students learn to use their own words, their own insights, and their own minds.
If your teen asks, “Can I use AI for this assignment?” — the answer is easy. Saying “no” to using AI is a true “yes” to a teen’s best learning, growing, and gaining excellent skills, for now and for the future.
Want to connect with other homeschoolers? Join us in the Homeschool Connections Facebook Group or in the HSC Community. I’d love to continue this conversation with you there.
