Research consistently shows that academic dishonesty is more prevalent in environments where grades take precedence over genuine learning and skill development. Gerald Knesek, in his article Why Focusing on Grades Is a Barrier to Learning, helps us reevaluate how we can help students learn without overemphasizing the final grade.  In today’s educational landscape, with easy access to AI tools and online resources, it’s even more crucial to create a learning-centered environment that emphasizes mastery and authentic engagement.

Key strategies for promoting mastery-oriented learning:

Transparent Learning Design

1. Clearly articulate course learning objectives
2. Explicitly connect each assessment to specific learning goals
3. Demonstrate how skills and knowledge build throughout the course
4. Show relevance to real-world applications and future career paths
5. Address how AI tools can support (not replace) learning objectives

Empower Student Agency

1. Offer meaningful choices in assessment formats
2. Allow students to propose project topics aligned with their interests
3. Consider flexible grading schemes where students can allocate weight across different assessments
4. Incorporate authentic assessments that reflect real-world problem-solving
5. Let students choose how to demonstrate their knowledge (presentations, papers, projects, etc.)

Progressive Assessment Strategy

1. Implement low-stakes practice opportunities
2. Provide immediate feedback for learning
3. Use AI-aware assessment designs that focus on process and application
4. Allow multiple attempts on skill-building exercises
5. Include self-assessment and reflection components
6. Build in checkpoints for larger projects to support steady progress

This approach:

• Reduces anxiety around high-stakes assessments
• Encourages genuine engagement with course material
• Promotes deeper understanding over memorization
• Creates natural deterrents to academic dishonesty
• Prepares students for real-world problem-solving
• Acknowledges the role of modern tools while maintaining academic rigor

By focusing on mastery and authentic learning experiences, we create an environment where academic integrity becomes a natural outcome rather than an enforced requirement.

Back to Main Page (Scroll to bottom of page for links to series) – How to Foster Academic Integrity

This content draws inspiration from the  University of California San Diego Academic Integrity website. They also provide a Reinforcing Academic Integrity in the Age of AI: A Guide for Instructors, which offers additional recommendations for how to craft a GenAI policy for your courses.