--- title: "AI Usage Policy for Coaches" description: "UPchieve’s policy on the responsible use of AI within tutoring sessions and for student learning." url: https://help.upchieve.org/en/articles/93-ai-usage-policy-for-coaches collection: "Tutoring Tips, Best Practices & Resources 🧠" updated: 2026-09-26 language: en --- # AI Usage Policy for Coaches UPchieve’s policy on the responsible use of AI within tutoring sessions and for student learning. ## **Purpose** UPchieve is a one-on-one, human-centered online tutoring platform. AI tools can support learning, but coaches must never use AI to replace human guidance or provide answers directly. This policy ensures academic integrity, student trust, transparency and effective learning. ## **School Policies on AI** Many schools prohibit use of AI for homework, while others allow AI for research, brainstorming, or grammar help, but require teacher approval and proper citation.  ## **How students should use AI (outside of UPchieve):**  Students who want to use AI for homework should: - Consult with their teacher or review their school’s student code of conduct first.  - Never use AI to cheat on exams/tests - Never submit AI-generated work as their own. ## **When coaches may use AI** AI may support learning in the following ways: **Finding alternative explanations** If a coach has already explained a concept, but the student still isn’t understanding, you may use AI for other ways to explain a concept.: Sample prompt:  “_Student is struggling with \_\_\_\_. I explained that \_\_\_\_\_\_. What is another way to explain this? Provide an example._ **Generating practice problems** If a student needs additional practice problems, it’s ideal to use the examples in the [review material](https://help.upchieve.org/en/articles/19-quiz-studytraining-materials.md) first, but if more is needed, you can ask AI for practice problems and ask for links to the sources so you can double check if they’re coming from educational webpages.  Sample prompt:  _“Generate 5 algebra practice problems solving for x. Provide links to the sources so I can verify they are educational.”_ **Clarifying language** If you or the student are struggling to understand a word or sentence structure, you can use AI to ask for clarification and then rephrase your explanation (do not copy and paste what AI said) before sharing it with the student. Sample prompt:  “_Explain the word ‘metaphor’ in simple terms and give a quick example.”_ **Refreshing your memory** If you’re struggling to recall certain equations, formulas, grammar rules, etc, you can use AI to refresh your memory. Sample prompt: _“I need to remember the quadratic formula for solving equations. Can you remind me and share an example?”_ ## **When coaches may NOT use AI:** **To write or rewrite student essays** Coaches writing an essay on behalf of a student are committing plagiarism, which can have very serious consequences. Coaches should guide students to craft well-written essays using resources such as those found in our [review materials](https://help.upchieve.org/en/articles/19-quiz-studytraining-materials.md) (see [Essay Feedback](https://app.upchieve.org/training/review/essay-feedback), [Essay Planning](https://app.upchieve.org/training/review/essay-planning), or [Application Essays](https://app.upchieve.org/training/review/application-essays) links). Students who need help with grammar, should be receiving general instructions from coaches on what needs work rather than directly having the edits done for them. **To generate full explanations of how to solve an equation** If you don’t know how to solve an equation, ask the student for time to review the [training material](https://help.upchieve.org/en/articles/19-quiz-studytraining-materials.md), and then respond with your own words. Using AI for full explanations isn’t a good idea because there could be many mistakes and replaces human guidance. **To provide feedback on essays** UPchieve tutoring is designed to be human-centered, meaning feedback should come directly from the coach’s own review of the student’s work. This ensures students receive accurate, personalized support and develop their own skills through human guidance.  If you’re struggling to provide feedback, check out the [training material](https://app.upchieve.org/training/review/essay-feedback). **To help a student with a test or exam** That is cheating. Coaches should encourage students to seek help in preparing for tests or exams, and can use AI to support learning, but should discourage use of AI during live tests. ## **Using AI During UPchieve Sessions** ## **UPbot** ![](https://staticfiles.gleap.io/ghelparticle/l9ek5AEo7dWfD0YYeHWb4vG1pA5MVr5r6WEOWhncBISJl21EFD1DBOS8YDqMqnGtS2aD5BL1V8P.png) UPbot (UPchieve’s AI tool) is available to all students (visible via the toolbar icon). - Coaches are encouraged to use UPbot before using other AI models. - All questions are visible to everyone in the session for transparency. > **Warning:** I**mportant:** AI can make mistakes, so anyone using it should verify that the information comes from trusted sources (e.g., educational websites, not Wikipedia or similar webpages) before sharing. ## **FAQS** **A student is asking if they should use AI for their homework. How should I respond?** Coaches should tell students to check with their teacher or school’s student code of conduct on AI usage. **Should a coach help a student rewrite an essay that’s been AI-generated?** No. If a student admits they’ve used AI to write an essay or you have reasonable suspicion the majority of the essay was written by AI, tell the student that you can’t help with AI-generated content, but would be happy to help them develop an [outline of an essay](https://docs.google.com/document/d/10RQgrmswvOKvmNRPtDyWRln3rCCZIB7rt2qi2D4m0ZE/edit?usp=sharing) and can help them work through anything they’re struggling with. You can also let the student know that their school will detect AI-generated content and may fail the assignment. **A student says an AI checker detects AI, although they claim they’re using their own words. How should they proceed?** AI checkers can make mistakes. There’s not one checker that’s 100% reliable. If the student is sure they’ve been using their own words, and properly citing when applicable, they are doing the right thing.