As general-use artificial intelligence tools become increasingly accessible, K-12 educators are struggling to come to a decisive method of handling AI use when it comes to education.
Whether it be ChatGPT or any other form of AI learning tool, many activists will try to persuade you to think that machine learning will be able to solve all of education’s problems. The intended goals of AI in schooling can be, admittedly, very tempting. AI has the possibility of offering personalized learning for students, fast and accurate feedback on any form of written work, and many other features that people in all roles of education find useful on a day-to-day basis.
However, despite the seemingly very one-sided positive outlook some people hold for artificial intelligence in schooling, there is a large concern for the education of students that people need to be aware of. AI won’t just be used as a tool for learning; it will very possibly alter the standards of education as a whole if policies are not put in place to regulate AI use. AI threatens critical thinking, human connection, and even the authenticity of how students are learning. If the younger generation becomes dependent on AI, they will grow up to be incompetent in simple problem-solving skills.
Other than the direct effect on students’ minds and sense of responsibility, the damage AI is doing to our environment is fuel for the fire. While about a quarter of the planet already lacks access to clean water, “training the GPT-3 language model in Microsoft’s state-of-the-art U.S. data centers can directly evaporate 700,000 liters of clean freshwater.”, according to this estimate.
To say the least, AI does not belong in schools. To the students, it’s a tool to cheat on their assignments. A kid could snap a picture of any assignment and copy down what the computer tells them. And it’s a danger to our future, evaporating more and more water every day, while millions go without water. We need to keep our priorities in check.
The time to take action against AI is now, while AI is yet to be fully engrained in school policy. If nothing is done now, it is very possible that the incoming generation of students will lose their ability to critically think. If you are a student, resist using AI and taking the easy route when it comes to assignments. If you are a teacher, keep being strict with academic integrity policies in your classroom and push for a large restriction on the usage of AI in your school district. AI replacing student work is wrong, don’t be a part of the issue.
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