💻 TechnologyGrade 3Lesson 36
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Using AI writing assistants safely and honestly

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Learning Objectives

  • 1Describe what an AI writing assistant is and how it works
  • 2Identify honest and safe ways to use AI writing tools
  • 3Distinguish between dishonest or risky AI use and responsible AI use
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Mini Lesson

AI writing assistants are tools that use artificial intelligence to help you write, check grammar, suggest ideas, or improve your sentences. Examples include Grammarly, ChatGPT, and Microsoft Copilot. They can be very helpful — but only when you use them honestly. Using AI writing tools the wrong way can mean you are not actually learning, or that you are being dishonest about who did the work.

Honest and Safe Uses of AI Writing Assistants

  • Asking AI to check your grammar or spelling after you have written a draft yourself.
  • Using AI to brainstorm ideas that you then develop in your own words.
  • Asking AI to explain a word or concept you do not understand.
  • Getting AI to suggest a better sentence structure for a paragraph you wrote.
  • Using AI to practice writing in a language you are learning.
  • Telling your parent when you used an AI tool and how it helped.

Dishonest or Risky Uses of AI Writing Assistants

  • Copying AI-generated text and submitting it as your own work without any changes.
  • Asking AI to write your entire practice essay or assignment.
  • Sharing personal details (your name, address, phone number) with an AI chat tool.
  • Using AI to cheat in a timed test or exam.
  • Relying on AI so heavily that you never practice writing yourself.
  • Presenting AI writing as your own without telling your parent.

The Golden Rule for AI Writing Tools

  • AI is a helper — not a replacement for your own thinking and effort.
  • Your work should show your ideas, not just the ideas AI suggested.
  • Always review and edit AI suggestions — they can be wrong or misleading.
  • Be transparent: if you used AI help, say so.
Honest vs Dishonest AI UseTwo columns showing honest and safe AI uses versus dishonest or risky uses.AI Use: Honest vs DishonestHonest UseCheck grammar yourself firstBrainstorm, then write own wordsAsk to explain a conceptTell parent you used AIDishonest UseCopy AI text as your ownAI writes whole assignmentShare private details with AICheat in a timed test
The Golden Rules for AI Writing ToolsFour golden rules displayed as colored cards for using AI writing assistants honestly.Golden Rules for AI Writing1AI is a helper, not a replacement2Your ideas must be in the work3Always check AI suggestions4Be transparent — say you used AI
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Think of an AI writing assistant like a helpful study partner. A study partner can point out your mistakes and suggest ideas, but doing the whole assignment for them would be cheating. The same rule applies to AI.

Vocabulary
AI writing assistant
A tool that suggests ideas, words, or fixes to your writinge.g. My AI writing assistant suggested a clearer sentence.
Prompt
The question or instruction you type for the AIe.g. I gave the prompt "Help me brainstorm titles."
Honest use
Using AI to help you, not to do all the work for youe.g. Honest use means I write my own paragraph.
Plagiarism
Copying someone's work (even an AI's) and pretending it is yourse.g. Submitting AI text as my own would be plagiarism.
Transparent
Open and clear about how you got your answere.g. I am transparent that AI helped me edit.
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