Artificial Intelligence, also known as AI has made a huge jump from what it used to be. Just a few years ago there was little to no AI but now we can access any type of AI. For example, Siri wasn’t the most reliable and couldn’t talk but now in the IOS18 update, they have changed the AI of Siri to generate better images and more reliable information. I think artificial intelligence is very useful because it can generate anything you ask. AI will only continue to advance. One of AI’s most impressive things is that it can formulate pictures of anything you want. On that note, let’s discuss the pros of AI like assistance, speed, individualization, and personalization.
To start, a researcher from Walden University found that, “teachers who’ve tried AI have found that it can help make their jobs easier, from coming up with lesson plans to generating student project ideas to creating quizzes. With assistance from artificial intelligence, teachers can gain more time to spend with their students.” On the student’s side, the same researcher found that “If a student feels “stuck” while working on an assignment, artificial intelligence programs can provide immediate, helpful assistance if a teacher or caregiver isn’t available. For instance, a student can ask, ‘How do I solve for X?’ to be reminded of the steps for solving an equation. A student can even ask, ‘What are some effective strategies for improving my essay writing’? and ChatGPT can offer advice and resources right away.” With these two pros, it can allow students and teachers to work more efficiently. With that being said, the AI-generated assignment should not be word for word but should be used for background information to help build the assignment. The students can use AI as a second resource to understand the lesson they are learning.
On the cons side, teachers and other job sectors fear that AI will replace jobs since it is so powerful. A researcher from Walden University showed that “students can use ChatGPT to write entire essays, answer quiz questions, or do their homework. Ironically, now there are AI programs that can detect AI writing to help teachers determine if their students are cheating. But sometimes those programs may falsely identify a student’s original work as plagiarism.” This is a con because an intelligent student might be falsely led to believe that they are cheating. To follow on what I said prior, students should use AI for a baseline but not the final assignment.
Owen Koleno said, “I can see both sides of using AI. It can be tough for the students that work hard and study and get good grades while other students can just use AI and get the same grade. People that use AI are just using their resources to help and I guess you can say are working smarter, not harder.”
To view AI from a teacher’s perspective, Jessica Levonick said, “AI for education can be such a helpful tool. However, there are two issues: The first issue is school districts don’t have clear policies about AI and the second is that students are not being shown how to use AI ethically. It’s not a surprise to me that most students use AI unethically because they’re not being given a chance to learn and discuss how AI can improve their lives in the classroom while still keeping academic integrity. Teachers and districts need to invest time in creating safe and ethical AI policies and including students in the conversation.”
To conclude, I think that AI can be a useful tool for students because they can get a baseline of how to do their assignments, a second teacher, and effective strategies to work on their assignments. To end, AI isn’t always just cheating. AI can be a useful tool if used properly and should never be used to copy and paste an answer.
Sources: “5 Pros and Cons of AI in the Education Sector.” Walden University, https://www.waldenu.edu/
