“ChatGPT/Copilot, tell me what caused the Great Recession of 2007-08?”

“ChatGPT/Copilot, how can the world reach Net Zero emissions, and by when?”

“ChatGPT/Copilot, what are the geopolitical tensions between China and Taiwan?”

Isn’t it easy to get answers to any question in the age of Generative AI? Although there is no study/data, some universities have complained that students often use GenAI while taking online tests/exams.

Coursera now plans to use GenAI to curb this GenAI-assisted cheating. The online learning platform has released GenAI-powered features designed to scale assessment creation and grading, strengthen academic integrity, and enhance learning and evaluation.

 “These features – including AI-Assisted Grading, Proctoring and Lockdown Browser, and AI-based Viva Exams – will help campuses deliver authentic learning to students, while increasing the value of online assessments, courses and certificates,” Raghav Gupta, managing director, India & APAC, Coursera, told FE.

Let’s break down these features.

Scale Assessment Creation & Grading

– AI Assessment Generator: Saves educators’ time by generating diverse maths, text and multiple-choice assessments, and integrating them into assignments. Alliance University, Bengaluru, is testing this feature to quickly generate customised course assessments at scale.

– Question Banks & Variants: Provides a variety of questions and multiple variants for robust testing, making exams difficult to predict and easier to author.

– AI-Assisted Grading: Streamlines grading by suggesting scores and feedback based on assignment analysis, with final decisions remaining with graders.

Strengthen Academic Integrity

– Graded Item Locking: Requires students to complete all ungraded items, watch videos, and complete readings, promoting comprehensive learning and preventing skipping ahead. Woxsen University, USA, is currently piloting this tool.

– Time & Attempt Limits: Controls exam attempts to ensure fairness, discourage trial and error, and limit outside resource access, encouraging meaningful engagement and reflection.

– Proctoring & Lockdown Browser: Blocks unauthorised resources and detects unauthorised assistance during high-stakes exams.

– Plagiarism Detection: Identifies content similar to previous submissions, deterring plagiarism and educating students on independent thinking and originality.

Enhance Learning & Evaluation

– Quiz Prep & Prior Learning Recaps with Coursera Coach: Provides a personalised tutor – powered by GenAI and grounded in Coursera content – that provides interactive learning assistance, lecture summaries, guided practice, and tailored pre-assessment reviews.

– AI Peer Reviews: Facilitates peer feedback with AI-powered insights, evaluating text-based submissions and generating grades using assignment rubrics.

– AI-based Viva Exam: Analyses free-form written submissions and grading criteria to dynamically generate custom follow-up questions to test the authenticity and critical thinking behind the student’s submission. It also enables educators to conduct viva-style written exams, where students ‘show their work’ and graders receive detailed analysis.

Coursera has prioritised India as a key market for the launch of these Academic Integrity features, and Gupta said this shows how important the market has become for Coursera. An education analyst, however, quipped that this implies Indians have taken the lead in GenAI-assisted cheating!

“The National Education Policy 2020 (NEP) promotes online learning to bridge skill gaps and enhance graduate employability,” Gupta said. “The University Grants Commission’s provision for 40% of credits through online platforms is crucial, but universities must ensure online learning meets the rigorous standards required for academic credit. 

While GenAI introduces new risks for student misconduct, it also provides opportunities for universities to enhance academic integrity at scale. We hope to empower Indian universities with tools to uphold the highest standards of academic integrity in online learning, ensuring students receive an authentic and verified education that is respected by employers.”