How to use AI for schoolwork: Key do's and don'ts students must know

The explosion of ChatGPT and other generative AI tools has reshaped classrooms worldwide, changing how students approach learning and assignments.

With chatbots now helping millions of students every day, the line has grown blurry over what tasks AI should assist with, and when its use crosses into academic misconduct. The technology's growing role in everyday life only adds to the uncertainty.

Here are some key guidelines on using AI responsibly for schoolwork:

Don't copy and paste AI-generated answers

AI tools can produce polished, detailed responses, making it tempting to submit their output as your own. But using AI this way undermines your learning and violates basic academic principles.

Universities stress that AI can clarify ideas or help generate concepts, but original work must come from the student. The University of Chicago notes that students should rely on their own analysis and treat AI as a guide, not a replacement for thinking.

Yale University warns that outsourcing writing to a chatbot — even for summaries or outlines — will leave students less prepared for exams and future coursework.

Do use AI as a study partner

Experts recommend using AI much like a tutor. Chatbots can explain difficult topics, suggest ideas or help students review material.

California high school teacher Casey Cuny encourages students to feed class notes, study guides and textbook references into ChatGPT, then ask the chatbot to quiz them one question at a time — and create a teaching plan based on any wrong answers.

His classroom "traffic light" system labels brainstorming and feedback as green-lighted uses, while asking AI to draft or revise essays remains prohibited.

AI can also be helpful for voice-to-text "brain dumps", said Sohan Choudhury of Flint, allowing students to talk through what they do and don't understand before receiving tailored explanations.

Do check your school's AI rules

Policies vary widely. Some US states have issued guidance for schools, but adoption differs.

Institutions like the University of Toronto ban generative AI unless instructors explicitly allow it. Others, such as the State University of New York at Buffalo, leave decisions entirely to individual faculty members.

Students are urged to review course-specific rules to avoid unintended violations.

Don't hide AI use from teachers

Educators increasingly accept that AI is part of modern learning. Many now encourage open conversations so students don't unintentionally violate policies.

Rebekah Fitzsimmons of Carnegie Mellon University says students often struggle to distinguish between using AI to refine their own work and letting the tool generate content for them — another reason transparency matters.

Some universities advise citing AI when it contributes to idea generation, summaries or drafting assistance, just as students would cite any other source.

And always consider ethics

Institutions expect students to use AI in ways that uphold academic integrity. The University of Florida urges students to review honour codes, while Oxford University stresses responsible, transparent and critical use of AI tools.