Today, the prevalence of artificial intelligence has resulted in students utilizing AI to complete school work. Administrators and other educators in the classroom are not a fan of this misuse. But, could artificial intelligence be beneficial when used as a tool?
Students use a variety of AI tools, from the infamous Chat GPT to Snapchat AI. Administrators have turned to a multitude of AI spotting softwares; for example, the program Turn-it-in. Others are utilizing previously installed programs like Securely to monitor students’ screens during class. When asked about their opinion about the rise of artificial intelligence, Señora Michalak says, “it can be a great tool when used correctly; however, it can be a slippery slope.” Mr. Augustyn states, “since AI will become part of most jobs in some capacity, learning how to use it should occur… but not at the expense of learning other skills or content.” AI, when used correctly, can be a very beneficial tool for getting ideas or experimenting. Students are able to get information quicker, which appeals to the shortened attention span of kids and teenagers today.
On the other hand, AI has gotten the reputation of being simply a new method of cheating, because it is nearly impossible to perfectly monitor the use of AI in the classroom; especially on personal devices, which are an entirely different issue within the study body. Using AI on assignments can minimize the information retained by the student and would ultimately lead to more struggle on paper assignments or when using a lockdown browser. Additionally, AI tends to use intricate language, leading to students getting caught of academic dishonesty in most cases.
So, how can we use AI in the future? There are three expected branches of artificial intelligence to come: specified AI, which will be used to perform or have extensive information on specific topics; general AI, the most similar to what we have today, more machine-like AI; and super AI, which may have cognitive functions and performance of many human tasks. Ultimately, the future of AI in education, and life as a whole, depends on the continued development of technology.
Artificial intelligence is the future of our everyday lives, so why would students not utilize it? Although it often gives instant gratification by quick answers, students need to know where to draw the line; AI will not replace everything, and there are a number of skills that students should learn. We do not know what will be next for artificial intelligence, but we do know that it is sure to be used for years to come.
