The Essay AI Can't Write: Rethinking Authentic Student Learning

Summary for Educators

Based on Tom Kaspers
"To Stop My Students from Using AI, I Assigned a New Kind of Essay." The Boston Globe, April 19, 2026. Tom Kaspers is an assistant professor of philosophy at the University of Chicago.

🔵 THE BIG IDEA (120–150 words)

Rather than trying to catch students using AI, Tom Kaspers redesigned the assignment itself. Instead of individual take-home essays that could easily be generated by ChatGPT, his philosophy students collaborated to produce a single class-wide essay while he participated as a mentor, editor, and thought partner. Every student contributed ideas, defended arguments, revised classmates' work, and participated in ongoing discussions. The result was more authentic engagement, stronger writing, and deeper ownership of learning. Kaspers argues that the real challenge isn't simply preventing AI use—it is creating assignments that require students to think, collaborate, revise, and defend their reasoning in ways AI cannot easily replace. When the learning process becomes visible, meaningful, and collaborative, students have far less incentive to outsource their thinking.

🔵 KEY TAKEAWAYS FOR EDUCATORS

• Design assignments that emphasize process as much as final products.

• Require students to explain, defend, and revise their thinking publicly.

• Build structured collaboration into major writing projects.

• Assess drafts, discussions, and revisions—not just finished essays.

• Position teachers as thinking partners who coach students through complex ideas.

• Create authentic audiences and purposes that make student work meaningful.

◻️ WHY IT MATTERS (75–100 words)

Artificial intelligence has fundamentally changed traditional writing assignments. Rather than relying on AI detection software, educators have an opportunity to rethink assessment itself. Authentic tasks that emphasize collaboration, critical thinking, revision, and intellectual dialogue make learning more engaging while reducing opportunities for inappropriate AI use. As schools develop AI policies, instructional redesign—not simply enforcement—may become the most powerful strategy for preserving academic integrity while strengthening student learning.

🟢 LEADERSHIP ACTION STEPS

✔ Encourage teachers to redesign assignments around authentic thinking rather than simple content production.

✔ Promote collaborative learning experiences that require discussion, revision, and peer feedback.

✔ Support professional learning on AI-responsive assessment practices.

✔ Evaluate student learning through multiple forms of evidence, including drafts and conferences.

✔ Celebrate instructional innovation that strengthens authentic student engagement.

🟡 LEADER REFLECTION

If AI can instantly generate an acceptable essay, what kinds of assignments will best reveal students' genuine thinking, curiosity, and understanding?

Original Article

“To Stop My Students from Using AI, I Assigned a New Kind of Essay” by Tom Kaspers in The Boston Globe, April 19, 2026; Kaspers can be reached at kaspers@uchicago.edu. 

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Prepared with the assistance of AI software

OpenAI. (2026). ChatGPT (5.2) [Large language model]. https://chat.openai.com