AI Information

Pinkerton Academy's Statement on Artificial Intelligence (AI)

Pinkerton Academy acknowledges the role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) to enhance learning, critical thinking, and creativity, preparing students and our school community for a rapidly changing world increasingly shaped by AI. We see AI as a complement, not a substitute, for human intelligence, fostering original thinking while honoring human ingenuity. Our approach prioritizes ethical, responsible, and transparent use of AI, with a strong commitment to academic integrity, critical evaluation of AI outputs, and protection of student data. We guide our community to use AI to enrich, not replace, authentic learning and understanding.


Pinkerton's Policies

Academic Honesty and integrity policy

In its attempt to promote student excellence, Pinkerton Academy expects students to conduct themselves with honesty and integrity. It is critical that students are aware of Pinkerton Academy's expectations with respect to academic honesty and integrity. Academic dishonesty is any form of cheating, forgery, or plagiarism on any assignment or assessment.

To make the most of their school experience, students must take control of their learning by completing their own work. Sometimes this learning occurs in the form of assignments for which students are expected to work independently, or in other instances, cooperatively as indicated by the teacher. Independent and collaborative thinking and giving credit for thoughts other than one's own are essential skills, as are the ability to distinguish one's own thoughts from someone else's (or Al) without giving credit. If one incorporates generative Al material into academic work, that person asserts that it accurately reflects the facts and should be identified as such through independently verified citation. Al should only be used to generate material when authorized by the teacher. See the student handbook for more details.

Citation procedure

(From the English Department)

  • Citations must be from a primary or secondary source.
  • Citations from generative AI resources are not accepted.

Students cannot just use any content that comes directly from generative Al in an essay. They must verify a source! This expectation remains unchanged.

AI USE COntinuum

Our AI use continuum provides a shared framework for making thoughtful decisions about the use of generative AI in learning activities.  The tool helps establish clear expectations, ranging from requiring only learner-created content to where AI can act as a supportive partner, to fully bot-created content. Use of the continuum enables teachers to communicate their expectations clearly and collaborate with students in meaningful discussions about the appropriate use of AI in different assignments. Teachers are encouraged to model their own use of AI transparently, explaining why and how they make those choices. Crucially, students are not asked to use AI in the classroom; rather, the goal is empowering students to become intentional decision-makers. By learning to navigate this continuum, students develop the critical judgment to analyze any task and decide for themselves when and how AI can be used appropriately to guide, support, or deepen their learning, ensuring the focus always remains on their own intellectual growth.

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