Understand and apply the 5-level framework for AI use in student work
Based on the AIAS by Perkins, Furze, Roe & MacVaugh
1
No AI
2
AI Planning
3
AI Collab
4
Full AI
5
AI Exploration
Level 1: No AI
Traditional assessment — all work is the student's own
No AI tools are permitted at any stage. Students rely entirely on their own knowledge, skills, and traditional resources (textbooks, libraries, notes). Assessment measures individual capability without AI assistance.
Use Cases
Supervised exam essays
Students write essays in a controlled environment without access to any AI tools. All research, planning, and writing is done using traditional resources only.
In-class problem sets
Students solve problems using only their knowledge, textbooks, and basic calculators. No computational AI tools are allowed.
Handwritten creative work
Students create original stories, poems, or artwork by hand, relying on their own creativity without AI-generated content or suggestions.
Tips
For Educators
Clearly state the no-AI policy and explain why this task requires it
Design tasks that test skills AI cannot easily replicate (personal reflection, in-person presentation)
Use supervised environments when compliance matters
For Students
Focus on building your own critical thinking and problem-solving
Use traditional research methods: textbooks, journals, library resources
Practise time management for non-AI-assisted work
Level 2: AI Planning
AI for preparation — humans for execution
AI can be used for brainstorming, planning, outlining, and research, but the final work must be written and created entirely by the student. AI helps you prepare; you do the work.
Use Cases
Research paper with AI-assisted outline
Students can use AI to generate an outline or suggest potential sources, but must write the actual paper themselves without AI assistance.
Debate prep with AI brainstorming
Students can ask AI to brainstorm different persuasive angles, but must develop and write their own arguments independently.
Project planning with AI suggestions
Students can use AI to generate timelines and task breakdowns, but must execute all aspects of the project themselves.
Tips
For Educators
Ask students to submit their AI-generated planning materials alongside final work
Require reflection on how AI planning influenced their approach
Teach students to critically evaluate AI suggestions
For Students
Use specific prompts when asking AI for planning help
Keep a record of your AI interactions as evidence
Modify AI suggestions based on your own knowledge
Level 3: AI Collaboration
Human-AI partnership throughout
Students actively collaborate with AI throughout the process, using AI-generated content as a starting point but significantly modifying, expanding, and improving it. The human voice and critical thinking must be clearly evident.
Use Cases
Essay with AI-generated first draft
Students can ask AI to generate a first draft, then substantially revise, expand, and improve it. They must document what they changed and why.
Code with AI assistance
Students can use AI to generate code snippets or debug, but must demonstrate understanding by modifying, commenting, and extending functionality.
Creative writing co-creation
Students collaborate with AI on story ideas or dialogue, then significantly develop the narrative. They annotate which parts were AI-assisted vs. original.
Tips
For Educators
Require annotations showing how AI output was modified
Assess the quality of student modifications, not just the final product
Teach effective prompting techniques
For Students
Use track changes or highlighting to show your modifications
Critically evaluate AI content before incorporating it
Focus on adding your unique insights and voice
Level 4: Full AI
Unrestricted AI use — assessed on effective utilisation
Students can use AI tools without restriction, including for generating final content. Assessment shifts to the ability to use AI effectively: prompt engineering, critical evaluation, and iterative refinement become the assessed skills.
Use Cases
Prompt engineering challenge
Students are assessed on crafting effective prompts. They submit prompts, AI outputs, and reflections on their design choices.
AI-generated research report
Students guide AI to produce a complete report through iterative prompting. Assessment focuses on their ability to steer the AI toward accuracy and insight.
AI tool comparison project
Students use multiple AI tools for the same task, then analyse and compare outputs, effectiveness, and limitations of each.
Tips
For Educators
Assess prompt quality and the ability to guide AI
Require documentation of the prompt iteration process
Focus on identifying AI limitations
For Students
Keep a prompt journal documenting your interactions
Students critically analyse, evaluate, and explore AI capabilities and limitations. The focus is on meta-level understanding: studying AI itself, its biases, implications, and potential for their field.
Use Cases
AI bias investigation
Students design experiments to test for biases in AI systems, analysing how different prompts affect outputs and discussing ethical implications.
AI learning impact study
Students conduct a self-study on how AI affects their learning, documenting when AI enhances vs. potentially hinders deep understanding.
AI tool design project
Students design and prototype an AI-powered educational tool, considering ethics, UX, and benefits and limitations for different learners.
Tips
For Educators
Design assessments requiring critical analysis of AI capabilities
Encourage interdisciplinary perspectives on AI impacts
Provide frameworks for ethical analysis of AI tools
For Students
Document experiments including unexpected AI outputs
Consider diverse perspectives (technical, ethical, social)
Reflect on how AI will change your field of study
Build an Assignment Brief
Fill in the details below and generate copy-ready text you can paste into your assignment brief or student instructions.
1
No AI
2
Planning
3
Collab
4
Full AI
5
Explore
Your Assignment Brief
Edit freely, then copy to paste into your document
All 5 Levels at a Glance
Quick reference for choosing the right level for your assessment.
1No AI
AI Allowed
None at any stage
Student Does
All research, planning, and writing
You Assess
Individual knowledge & skill
Best For
Exams, foundational skills, personal reflection
2AI Planning
AI Allowed
Brainstorming, outlining, research
Student Does
All writing and creation
You Assess
Execution & independent writing
Best For
Research papers, project planning, debate prep
3AI Collab
AI Allowed
Drafting, editing, co-creation
Student Does
Significant revision & original additions
You Assess
Critical thinking & quality of modifications
Best For
Essays, code projects, creative writing
4Full AI
AI Allowed
Unrestricted, including final output
Student Does
Prompt engineering & quality control
You Assess
Effective AI use & iterative refinement
Best For
AI literacy tasks, prompt challenges, reports
5AI Explore
AI Allowed
Unrestricted — AI is the subject of study
Student Does
Analyse, experiment, evaluate AI
You Assess
Meta-understanding of AI capabilities & ethics
Best For
AI ethics units, bias studies, tool design projects
Tap any level in the Explore tab for full details, use cases, and tips.