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Digital education reading group: March 2025
The rapid rise of generative AI tools presents both challenges and opportunities for educators, particularly in the realm of assessment design and academic integrity. As AI becomes more sophisticated and widely used by students, traditional methods of detecting misconduct—such as proctoring and AI detection tools—are proving increasingly limited. This raises fundamental questions about the validity, reliability, and fairness of assessments in higher education.
In this month’s digital education reading group, Kirsty Branch, Learning Technologist (Digital Assessment), invites us to reflect on how we might move beyond punitive responses to AI use and instead explore how assessment can be redesigned to align with authentic learning experiences. Authentic assessment — incorporating real-world relevance, higher-order thinking, and continuous feedback — offers a compelling alternative to traditional exams, but is it scalable? Should institutions embrace AI as a learning tool, or does this risk compromising academic standards?
Resources
These resources offer insights into AI’s impact on academic integrity, the limitations of detection strategies, and practical ideas for redesigning assessments in a way that upholds both rigour and relevance. As digital education professionals, we are uniquely positioned to consider how these developments shape our practice. How can we support academic integrity while embracing technological change? How do we ensure that assessments remain meaningful in an AI-enabled world?
We encourage you to engage with these materials, reflect on the implications for your own context, and contribute to the discussion on the future of assessment in the digital age.
- HEPI (2025), HEPI/Kortext AI Survey Shows Explosive Increase in the Use of Generative AI Tools by Students
A recent survey by the Higher Education Policy Institute (HEPI) and Kortext reveals a significant increase in the use of generative AI tools among undergraduates. Common applications include explaining concepts, summarising articles and suggesting research ideas. The survey also highlights students consider AI use essential, but few have received formal training, underscoring the need for universities to reassess assessment methods and provide balanced AI education to uphold academic integrity. - HOUCEA (2024), How to Encourage Academic Integrity in the Age of Generative AI
This article from Oxford University Centre for Educational Assessment discusses strategies to promote academic integrity amidst the rise of generative AI, suggesting deterrence over detection, relational honor codes, reducing high-stakes assessments, clarifying definitions of malpractice, and avoiding the normalisation of cheating. - Fawns, T. et al. (2024) Authentic assessment: from panacea to criticality
Pages 4-5 are particularly relevant in this paper about authentic assessment. It critically analyses its effectiveness in addressing three key issues: preparing graduates for future careers, combating academic dishonesty, and promoting inclusivity. - Inside Higher Ed (2025), AI: Cheating Matters but Redrawing Assessment “Matters Most” This article explores the challenges posed by AI in academic settings, emphasising the need to redesign assessments to focus on higher-order thinking and problem-solving skills that are less susceptible to AI manipulation.
Key questions
Some questions to guide the conversation:
- How can we move the conversation from AI misuse in assessments to its potential benefits in learning and assessments? Should we do this?
- Are the authentic assessment solutions scalable/practical? Would they work?
- Since students are using generative AI in their everyday life, should we support its use as part of assessment?
- Do we need to rethink what cheating is?
- With concerns about AI errors and reliability, should we still encourage students to use AI tools?
- Are AI detection tools the answer? Since AI detectors are struggling, would it be better to focus on other ways to manage AI use in assessments?
Looking forward to hearing your thoughts and ideas! Let me know if you have any questions or need help accessing the materials.
List of topics discussed at previous meetings
