Instead of banning AI, I made a classroom contract with my students

science.org
July 3, 2026
4 min read
49/100
Summary
A classroom contract was created to address the use of AI among students rather than implementing a ban. The contract aims to promote academic integrity and responsible use of AI tools in coursework.
Key Takeaways
- The author created an "AI contract" with students to establish guidelines for acceptable AI use in assignments, allowing for automation of tasks but maintaining critical analysis as a human responsibility.
- The author has limited written assignments to two pages and increased emphasis on oral discussions to better evaluate students' understanding and thought processes.
- The approach of co-creating an AI contract has shifted the classroom dynamic from adversarial to collaborative, encouraging open dialogue about AI use among students.
- The author recognized the need to adapt teaching methods in response to the challenges posed by generative AI, moving away from a strict no-AI policy.
Coverage & discussions
Hacker News · science.org
Community discussions
Community Sentiment
Positives
- I'm glad to see more of this approach to modernizing education; clinging to outdated methods in the face of AI is just plain naive.
- Instruction needs to shift to accommodate AI rather than preventing it; it's time to benchmark real skills and collaboration over rote memorization.
Concerns
- The idea of co-creating a contract seems optimistic, but it won't matter to the stressed 10-20% who will ignore it like any other rule.
- Some argue that without a solid foundation of knowledge, project work won't lead to true understanding or creativity.
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