Using AI in Student Work? Here’s How to Handle Declarations and Rubrics

Answer first: When students use AI in their work, educators should focus on transparency, evidence of learning, and assessment design rather than trying to detect AI use after the fact. AI declarations and rubrics help learners explain what tools they used, how they used them, and what judgement, interpretation, or original work remains their own.

This post is part of my wider work on AI Capability & Judgement: practical ways to use AI in education without losing human judgement, learner agency, or assessment integrity.

Simple templates for acknowledging AI use and assessing fairly in Aotearoa’s classrooms

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Using AI in Student Work: Why This Matters

AI is here — and your learners are likely using it. Whether it’s to brainstorm ideas, summarise texts, or improve their writing, generative AI like ChatGPT is now part of many students’ learning ecosystems.

But what does this mean for assessment? And how can educators support integrity without turning into AI detectives?

This post offers two practical tools:

• A sample AI Use Declaration learners can include with submissions
• Two AI-integrated rubric examples for written and process-based tasks

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📄 Part 1: Sample AI Use Declaration

This is a simple, honest statement that learners can copy, adapt, and include in their assessments.

🟢 Short Version (Minimalist Use)

“I confirm that I used ChatGPT to help brainstorm ideas and rephrase sections of this text. I reviewed and edited all AI-generated content myself. I take responsibility for the final submission.”

🟡 Medium Version (Process Acknowledgement)

“I used ChatGPT to generate a draft response to the question. I then edited the content using my own examples and added material from course readings. I have annotated any sections where AI contributed ideas or structure.”

Important: Encourage learners to treat this like referencing a source. It’s about transparency, not punishment.

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🧰 Part 2: Sample Rubric Wording for AI-Aware Assessment

📘 Rubric 1 – Written Report (Level 4 or 5)

Criteria	Achieved (✓)	Comments
Use of AI is acknowledged		Clear, transparent, honest
Final work shows originality		Includes learner voice
Edits to AI output are substantial		Evidence of reflection or revision
Understanding of topic		Goes beyond surface content

📘 Rubric 2 – AI-Supported Reflection Task

Criteria	Achieved (✓)	Comments
Learner explains AI use		What tool, why, and how
Critical thinking about AI		Strengths, limits, or bias
Connection to course content		Links AI use to learning
Personal response		Own views or insights

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🧭 Final Thoughts

AI doesn’t have to mean academic integrity is lost. With the right scaffolding, it can become a tool that strengthens critical thinking and transparency.

Feel free to adapt these templates for your context — or remix them into your own assessments and policies.

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FAQ: AI Use In Student Work

What is an AI use declaration?

An AI use declaration is a short statement where a learner explains which AI tools they used, what they used them for, and which parts of the work still represent their own judgement, analysis, decisions, or original contribution.

Should students be allowed to use AI in assessments?

That depends on the purpose of the assessment. If the assessment is measuring independent recall or unaided performance, AI use may need to be restricted. If the assessment is measuring judgement, problem-solving, communication, or workplace capability, transparent AI use can be assessed directly.

How can rubrics assess AI-supported work?

Rubrics can assess how well students use AI as part of a learning process: whether they check outputs, adapt suggestions, explain decisions, cite assistance, and show evidence of their own understanding.

How do educators protect academic integrity when students use AI?

Academic integrity is stronger when expectations are explicit. Declarations, process evidence, oral checks, reflective notes, version history, and well-designed rubrics make AI use visible instead of hidden.

Using AI in student work and want more?
Start with AI Capability & Judgement, or see ALEC for an applied example of AI-supported teaching practice.