In the past few years, Artificial Intelligence (AI) has been seen by many as a tool, yet it can also be a means of lacking creativity. The use of AI particularly in the classroom has risen in the past few years. In a survey done by the American Psychological Association (APA) in 2024, it was reported that seven out of 10 teenagers between the ages of 13 and 18 use AI to help with their homework.
The use of AI is becoming more common among adolescents. Sophomore Abdullah Obic believes that AI can be used as a tool in the classroom, but it can also cause students to become lazier.
“I think it [AI] can be used as a helpful tool for research and homework, but it can also be used as a harmful tool to cheat on things … I think software like Chat GPT creates a sense of laziness among students who aren’t willing to do the work,” Obic said.
When it comes to using AI in the classroom, the district wants teachers to be clear on the expectations for using AI. Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction, Christine Gonzales, mentioned that the use of AI in the classroom is up to the teacher’s discretion.
“We want teachers to be clear about the expectation for the use of AI, so they could say ‘Yes, absolutely, you can use AI,’ or they could say ‘You can use AI in this capacity,’ or ‘Zero AI at all,'” Gonzales said.
Gonzales also believes AI will play a part in the future of academics. Two main reasons are how it may lead to students not having to memorize various things and allowing students to cross-reference and evaluate the credibility of something instead of just believing it.
“[AI is] absolutely going to change teaching and learning; it already has in so many ways. It forces us to think about what we want students to know and learn. So at one point, if we wanted students to memorize certain things, now that it can be recalled quickly or interpreted differently, we may want our students to evaluate the credibility of something instead of just understanding what it might be,” Gonzales said.
Senior Zehraan Mohamed believes that teachers should in fact teach students how to use AI effectively and as a tool instead of discouraging them from using it.
“I think teachers should help students use AI and do it in a more helpful and educational sense, while also defining its limits so that it can be seen as a helpful tool instead of a means for cheating,” Mohamed said.
