Artificial intelligence (AI) is a technology that mirrors human critical thinking, and it has had substantial impacts on classroom learning in recent years since its popularization, according to ibm.com. This technology is changing both how teachers manage the classroom, and how students learn. While AI has had negative effects, such as breaking bonds between students and teachers, causing student creativity and knowledge to decline, and exposing users to privacy invasions, the technology also provides all students access to support and enrichment.
Some students now take shortcuts, using AI to complete their work instead of actually grasping the concepts. Since these shortcuts have become so common, even those who do not use AI often worry that they will be accused of using the technology when it is not allowed. Ultimately, the use of AI has damaged the student and teacher relationship. Dr. David Smigen-Rothkopf, Upper School English Teacher, has seen this recent shift firsthand in his classroom, and he commented on his experience as a teacher.
“The biggest change, in terms of teacher and student dynamic, is that it has changed the nature of trust,” Dr. Smigen-Rothkopf said. “The culture of trust between student and teacher has been lost, and it is going to take a lot of work to recapture that; we may just have to acknowledge that it’s something a little different now. What I have been trying to do is talk more frankly about AI and talk about when it is and isn’t appropriate, and, by and large, if my students are going to use it, I would rather be there to help supervise the process.”
As the use of technology increases, the bonds between students and teachers weaken, as does general human communication and connection. Relying too heavily on this technology causes students to lose the social aspects of learning, which ultimately weakens students’ interpersonal development, according to education.illinois.edu. In addition to negatively affecting students’ social skills, AI limits growth for students. Dr. Smigen-Rothkopf commented on how AI is interfering with students’ development as writers.
“One of the difficulties is that, when a student takes a shortcut, although it’s less painful and more comfortable, she denies herself the most important thing,” Dr. Smigen-Rothkopf said. “The opportunity not just to grow as a writer and thinker, but also to grow as a human being.”
Ultimately, this technology may cause a decline in human intellectual growth. The easily accessible shortcuts to completing work on their own prevents students from developing resilience in academics. While there are clear negative impacts, Dr. Smigen-Rothkopf discussed some potential benefits of this developing technology.
“One of the positives, perhaps, is that if we think of Artificial Intelligence as an equity issue, it is making academic support out of the classroom available to all students,” Dr. Smigen-Rothkopf said. “There are definitely downsides since it’s not as good as a human being. […] If we think about how we can teach the right way to use this tool so that it doesn’t inhibit the growth, but instead extend the abilities of students, sort of like how writing is itself an extension of our minds on a piece of paper, perhaps we can use AI to extend our thinking further without losing who we are as people.”
Although extra assistance for schoolwork can be beneficial for student performance, AI is not always a reliable source. It is important to check with a teacher or another source that the information that AI produces is accurate. AI cannot ensure precise results, since its algorithm makes predictions according to certain patterns, according to unu.edu. Schools are introducing AI as a technology that will continue to serve as a resource. Dr. Smigen-Rothkopf shared important points to keep in mind when using this technology.
“AI isn’t a tech issue, but a human issue, and how we approach this has to depend on what it means to be human and what our intentions are as humans,” Dr. Smigen-Rothkopf said. “Again, it’s a machine, it’s not intelligent, we are the ones who bring the intelligence, and it can’t be evil unless we are evil.”
Featured Image by Gray Neville ’27
