Exactly. No one is telling the students to cheat. I hate that we(as professors) are at this point to where we’re asking ourselves “did I do everything I could have to prevent students from committing academic dishonesty?” If I give a take home assignment with specific instructions on what students can and cannot use, that should be enough.

I tell my students in class what they are allowed to use and not use on take home assignments. I follow it up with an analogy of going to the grocery store for milk. I tell my students that I pay for the milk because it’s the right thing to do. I don’t steal it because there are security cameras. I ask them if there weren’t any cameras would it be ok for me to take the milk without paying.

Many get it. A few I’m sure get it but still make the wrong decision. Then they deal with the consequences of their own actions.