Artificial intelligence is a tool created to allow a computer to perform advanced functions that can help the user manage tasks efficiently. However, since artificial intelligence has advanced more throughout the years, its capabilities have been used in less effective ways. AI is a growing concern in schools and is primarily used most by students for completing assignments, writing essays and taking tests. This has a large impact on students as it creates a lack of knowledge and independence, and it implies the reliance on the computer doing the work instead of a student’s own writing.
Independent work is assigned to students to assess their skills of what they know and develop study habits on how well the lesson is understood. However, the reliance on AI pushes those skills away and focuses more on the completion of work, rather than retaining the knowledge to put their skills to use to show their understanding of the subject. It doesn’t prove that it’s in one’s own words.
According to experts, students use AI in school because they fear failure, they are nervous about asking for help or they lack the motivation to work on an assignment. This can affect the ways students perform academically.
“I have a problem when they copy and paste it into their work instead of getting the information, putting it into their own words and learning from what they found out,” business teacher Stephanie Dixon said.
Critical thinking skills are used to show a person’s ability to analyze information given and how to tackle the problem using what they know. But when AI is used for a task that requires thinking, it is challenging to show understanding when it comes to being independent and doing a quiz or test.
This can also harm students’ creativity. When it comes to doing essays or having to write an assignment based on the subject, using one’s own writing shows their engagement in learning and allows them to develop a solid understanding of the information given. Without those skills, it can be difficult to use problem-solving abilities when doing assignments or making decisions on one’s own.
Overall, the effects of artificial intelligence can be damaging to the performance of students if not used properly. When students go to school, it is to teach them new information to prepare them for the real world, but using AI can take away those skills that they learn, and consequential effects will occur if not used properly.