ChatGPT, School AI, Gemini, Grammarly, and more forms of AI are on the rise. Whether accessing Artificial Intelligence (AI) for personal or educational use, the technological realm is increasing rapidly.
In schools, both students and teachers have taken advantage of AI, using the device to help in various ways. AI can be used to check grammatical errors, summarize passages, produce quick facts, etc.; currently, the limits to AI are not known.
There are AI committees within schools and the district to help teachers navigate this new platform.
The Negatives
The undetermined barriers to AI create a threat when it is used in the school and workplace. AI use is viewed differently by individuals, some promote its use while others believe it should be banned.
The most common downside of AI is that it opens up an opportunity for cheating. Teachers typically track their students to ensure they are not using external methods to complete their work for them.
Teacher and librarian Miss Jaclyn DeLoma states, “Apparently, utilizing it for completing assignments is irresponsible and a form of cheating as one is not using critical thought or one’s own ability to illuminate what they’ve learned, rendering erroneous competency that the teacher then evaluates, which in turn, misinforms their instructional practice and hinders future learning on behalf of the student.”
The main concern is that AI hinders students’ learning ability as they are not using the techniques they learn in class to complete assignments. It is believed that students do not grasp information because they can take the easy way out. Teachers do not want their students to use AI because it rids them of the experience of critical thinking and trial and error.
Another consequence is that AI is not reliable, forms of AI have built-in biases. Computers do not have the same abilities as humans and the information they provide is not always accurate. It is difficult to tell the difference between what is true and what is not. When students, or teachers, are using this source of information, they risk inaccurate knowledge.
Additionally, DeLoma says, “Unless there is a privacy policy attached to any generative AI site, there is a strong possibility that personal information can be breached and your information will then be compromised.”
The Positives
However, AI is a new technology that provides different opportunities for teaching and learning.
Miss Kate Mundy, Media Specialist at Jonathan Law states, “Books, paper, computers, internet, Smartboards, etc, all caused changes in how to teach. There needs to be a shift in teaching methods, as there was when all of these inventions became more popularized.”
Society is taking a turn further into technology than ever before; AI is a new development that will cause debates. As technology use increases, individuals will have to learn how to adapt to these changes and use it to their advantage.
Miss Amanda Bartone, East Shore Teacher, and AI Committee Member says, “This might be controversial, but traditional methods of teaching aren’t always the most effective to prepare students for this digital era.”
Hesitation when introduced to new things can be expected. AI falls into that category. Individuals are careful of using AI because of the consequences, but it also increases development in learning.
“To me, AI usage in the classroom gives students a launching point into worlds previously inaccessible. It helps me speak conversational Creole French to a student. It helps students gather information in [the] concise language specifically catered to their learning style,” states Science Teacher and AI Committee Member, Mister Greg Sember.
AI has allowed students and teachers to communicate in zones that were previously unreachable. It helps both students and teachers by giving them a way to learn catered to their specific needs.
Mundy states, “AI can be a huge time-saver and take away some of the more mundane tasks, thereby freeing people up for the more creative, intricate things.”
This enhances education because individuals can gain information such as languages, new learning methods, quick facts, and more. They do not have to spend time going over old information but can take advantage of this time to make discoveries.
Overall Impacts
It is prevalent that there are both benefits and drawbacks of AI use, in schools and everyday life. It is important to use the technology with caution. However, it is a useful tool for advancing education and gives both students and teachers a new way to learn.
