The use of Artificial Intelligence is ever increasing, especially in our school system. The developing software has been used by students, staff and educators alike in order to complete tasks, generate responses, writing, and posters. Students’ access to and dependence on platforms such as ChatGPT, Google Gemini, and even Grammarly is a recent and growing cause of concern.
High School Principal Ben Armey along with building leadership has formed a new “AI taskforce,” which will tackle the issue in partnership with other schools, rather than ignoring it. Armey recruited a few students to give their perspectives in order to create a feasible solution for the building and district. The team has already attended a conference to share concerns and ideas on the complex situation.
Army said he is open to exploring new AI programs such as MagicSchool to organize grades and school assignments, but input will continue to be gathered from staff and students in the coming months and years.
Karl Sineath, an English and psychology teacher at Spring Lake High School, explained how the challenges presented to the students are no longer a strain or allow for growth with the assistance of AI technology. Many school assignments were created before AI existed, and aim to challenge students in a way that promotes their individual learning.
Sineath described a study of psychology that shows that when people are adequately challenged, motivation increases and enables the process of learning; however, these assignments no longer incentivise or motivate students because they have simply become too easy when AI is used.
Often, the goal for students has become completion in recent years, and not understanding, he said. This is shown whenever a student uses AI and doesn’t think to fact check or find the source that the AI gathered information from. Many students and even adults don’t know that a source is connected to the answer provided by Google’s Analysis AI, this ignorance displays how one can complete an assignment without fully absorbing the content at hand.
When writing is thrown out of the equation, the process of thinking through and comprehending a topic is lost. According to Sineath, “Writing is a way to show your thinking, or work through your thinking.” This reveals a concern for those students who rely on AI tools to generate responses. Mr. Sineath also said dependence on technology can hinder the ability for students to effectively think through problems and come up with their own solutions.
In the high school office, Administrative Assistant Jessica Brakora also described how students in recent years have built a reliance on AI technology in order to complete their school work. She notes that AI can be used as a tool; however, students have not yet learned how to effectively utilize the software in order to strengthen their own minds.
When discussing the learning process and importance of completing your own work, Brakora said, “You need to know how to strengthen your brain.”
This is a crucial part of learning in school and can help to prepare students for the future, whether it be the workforce or college. Overall Mrs. Brakora believes that AI can be properly used with caution at appropriate levels.
The school’s taskforce is working on exploring these possibilities and is seeking more perspectives to help create policies and practices in the coming years.
