IS AI OK IN THE CLASSROOM? Amy Wegmann looks at when and if students should use it

LEE COUNTY, Fla. — As the new school year begins, many parents and students are wondering how to navigate the growing presence of artificial intelligence in the classroom. With tools like ChatGPT that can turn out papers in seconds or apps like Photomath that solve tricky math problems, it’s only natural to ask: How can and should AI be used for schoolwork?

I decided to put AI to the test myself. I asked it to write a third-grade essay on why cats are better than dogs.

See what happened in my full story:

When should students use AI for schoolwork?

In about five seconds, it spat out a page of paper. While the AI’s essay made some nice points about cats’ cleanliness and independence, it lacked the personal touch that a true third-grader would give to the assignment.

I wondered when and how students should use AI to help with schoolwork. Should they even?

I spoke with Dr. Chrissann Ruehle of Florida Gulf Coast University, who specializes in AI ethics.

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She emphasized the importance of students becoming familiar with AI. “It’s really critical that students develop a level of AI literacy,” Ruehle told me. “I think it’s going to become an integral part of what we do every day.”

BUT, and here’s a big but… Ruehle stresses that it should be a tool, not a replacement for a child’s own work, as tempting as that may be. And knowing the rules, well, that’s key.

“When students come into the classroom, they need to communicate to their teachers what is appropriate and what is not,” she said.

The reality is that teachers will likely know if and when a student is using it. Ruehle says AI-generated work often lacks a human touch that teachers can easily detect. “AI has its own style. It often lacks human elements like curiosity, a sense of humor, and emotional intelligence,” she explained. This means that while AI can generate content quickly, it may not capture the personal insights or experiences that a student would.

That AI-generated essay I told you about earlier is a perfect example. Sure, it was accurate and thorough, but it didn’t have that personal flair that a third-grader would add, like stories about their own pets. Plus, it’s hard to verify where the AI ​​got its information from, which raises questions about its accuracy, especially for deeper topics.

Local school districts in Southwest Florida are already addressing the use of AI. Lee County, for example, has incorporated AI into its code of conduct, allowing its use but clearly prohibiting plagiarism.

“There is significant potential for innovative uses of AI in education, but plagiarism, including AI-based plagiarism, cannot be allowed,” the Code of Conduct states.

Ruehle also pointed out the limitations of AI. “There are issues around bias and algorithmic decisions. There are concerns about privacy and societal impact. Students need to be aware of these factors when using AI,” she said.

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Ultimately, Ruehle believes that while AI can be a great resource, students should focus on developing their own skills first. “There’s a lot of value in honing your own writing, critical thinking, and communication skills,” she said.