Cheating or Learning? A Student’s Perspective on Academic Integrity in the Age of AI

What if the most important voice in the AI conversation is the one we hear the least? In this poster presentation, students, educators, school counselors and district leaders from Colorado and Kansas tackle the evolving questions of AI, academic integrity, trust and learning. Through live remote student participation, authentic classroom scenarios and cross-district dialogue, hear directly from students about how they use AI, where they draw the line between support and cheating, and how current policies align or conflict with their experiences. Look beyond whether AI use is simply right or wrong to examine the motivations, pressures and learning needs behind it. Leave with student-informed insights, strategies for productive AI conversations with students, staff and families, examples of how two districts are navigating evolving policies, adaptable discussion protocols and scenarios for professional learning, and actionable ideas for building trust, clarifying expectations and guiding responsible AI use.