On Episode 568 of Teaching in Higher Ed, I was joined by renowned academic integrity experts Tricia Bertram Gallant and David Rettinger, co-authors of The Opposite of Cheating: Teaching for Integrity in the Age of AI. Together, they discussed why cheating has been a normal part of being human, how broader systemic pressures encouraged shortcuts, and the ways generative AI had begun to disrupt traditional approaches to assessment and academic honesty. Throughout the conversation, they shared personal stories of ethical dilemmas, reflected on how faculty could approach suspected misconduct with empathy, and emphasized the importance of shifting away from purely punitive mindsets toward fostering deeper learning and authentic engagement. The guests offered practical strategies for supporting students, rethinking assessment in response to AI, and building more resilient, integrity-driven educational environments.

Resources from the episode:

• The Opposite of Cheating: Teaching for Integrity in the Age of AI, by Tricia Bertram Gallant and David A. Rettinger
• Doing School: How We Are Creating a Generation of Stressed-Out, Materialistic, and Miseducated Students, by Denise Clark Pope
• The Four Agreements: A Practical Guide to Personal Freedom, by Don Miguel Ruiz
• Crucial Conversations: Tools for Talking When Stakes Are High, by Joseph Grenny, Kerry Patterson, Ron McMillan, Al Switzler and Emily Gregory
• Authentic Assessment
• Phil Dawson at Deacon University
• How Van Gogh Informs my AI Course Policy
• Taking A Mosaic Approach to AI in the Writing Classroom-
• Episode 555: A Big Picture Look at AI Detection Tools
• Good Robot Podcast
• Forever Chemicals, Forever Consequences: What PFAS Teaches Us About AI
• International Center for Academic Integrity
• Make It Stick: The Science of Successful Learning, by Peter Brown, Mark A. McDaniel, and Henry L. Roediger
• Study Like a Champ, by Regan a. R. Gurung and John Dunlosky
• The Residence
• Galatea 2.2: A Novel, by Richard Powers
• Tulsa Oklahoma

Discussion questions:

1. Systemic Issues: Tricia discusses “doing school” and how structural factors like grade emphasis and large class sizes contribute to cheating. How might institutions reshape these systemic factors to promote integrity?
2. Instructor Emotions: The episode explores the emotional responses faculty have when dealing with academic integrity violations. How can instructors reframe their role from “police officer” to “educator,” and why is this important?
3. Responding to Violations: The guests recommend responding to violations as mistakes from which students can learn, rather than as moral failings. What practical steps can faculty take to apply this mindset in their courses?
4. Assessment Security Theater: Tricia references "assessment security theater"—efforts that create the illusion of security. What are some examples, and how should we think differently about securing assessments?
5. Authentic Assessment: What does “authentic assessment” mean in your discipline, and how could you align assessment more closely with your actual learning objectives in the age of AI?
6. Institutional Policies: Why do the guests strongly advise always following institutional policy when handling academic integrity cases, and what challenges might arise if faculty “go rogue”?
7. Personal Growth: Both guests and Bonni reflect on their own mistakes or near-mistakes with integrity. How can sharing these stories promote a healthier culture of integrity for students and colleagues?

Related Episodes

There are three episodes I would like to highlight, which relate to ethics in higher education teaching, starting with ChatGPT and Good Intentions in Higher Ed with Autumm Caines on Episode 452. She examines the complexities of integrating AI tools like ChatGPT in higher education. Autumm emphasizes the importance of intentionality, highlighting that the process of writing is a form of thinking, and cautions against outsourcing this cognitive process to AI. The discussion also touches on the ethical considerations and potential implications of AI in academic settings.

Betsy Barre joined me on Episode 548 for a conversation that explores the challenges educators face when addressing political and controversial topics in the classroom. She discusses the tension between maintaining neutrality and engaging with pressing societal issues, advocating for a more generous and understanding approach to pedagogical disagreements. The episode encourages educators to reflect on their roles and the impact of their choices in politically diverse classrooms.

On Episode 549, Designing for Justice, Rajiv Jhangiani shares insights from his work at the Inclusive Education Research Lab, focusing on open educational practices, inclusive teaching, and ethical educational technology. He discusses the importance of intentionally designing educational experiences that promote social justice and equity, and how students can perceive and be impacted by these efforts. The conversation also covers institutional strategies to ensure that new educational tools do not reinforce systemic biases.

Quotable Words

David Rettinger encourages us on Episode 568:

Take care of yourself first, whatever that looks like. You're never going to help somebody else if you're not on firm ground yourself.

Next Week’s Episode

On the upcoming episode of Teaching in Higher Ed, Mike Perkins and Jasper Roe introduce a practical framework for ethical AI integration in assessment.

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Affiliate income disclosure: Books that are recommended on the podcast link to the Teaching in Higher Ed bookstore on Bookshop.org. All affiliate income gets donated to the LibroMobile Arts Cooperative (LMAC), established in 2016 by Sara Rafael Garcia.”

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