The pros and cons of AI use in education
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Author bio: Claire Mulligan
An experienced teacher, Claire is always interested in technologies that can help both her and her students. She is curious but cautious, and her writing always aims to show both sides of the story.
It’s almost impossible to get away from the influence of technology these days. It’s ingrained in almost every part of our society, from now seemingly ‘basic’ tech like phones to supercomputers. Whilst most of us will have an urge for a digital detox from time to time, there’s no denying the power these technological advancements have, helping us live more connected and comfortable lives.
Artificial intelligence (AI) is the newest innovation to take the world by storm. This technology allows computers to simulate human behavior at great speed, drawing conclusions from datasets and solving problems. Whilst this might sound exclusive, the technology is widely available, allowing everyone from professionals to children to use it. But just because young people can use AI – primarily to support their studies – does that mean they should?
In this post, we discuss whether AI has a place in the education system.
Pros
Adaptation to different learning styles
One of the difficulties that teachers (and parents) face is that the school curriculum tends to be designed for one type of learner. Most school tests focus on reading, writing and comprehension, with homework focusing on completing tasks of a similar nature. This can be difficult for children who struggle to take in written information, or express themselves on the page.
In contrast, AI can be a fantastic tool for creating personalized learning programs. This may mean generating gamified tasks, or even recorded revision resources for older students to listen and watch, instead of reading. Many teachers would like to provide this level of personalization in their curriculum, but are restricted on time and resources – this is where AI can help.
Removal of repetitive tasks for teachers
Most teachers would agree that they go into the profession to change lives, not to do admin. Report writing, pulling data insights after exams, and creating revision calendars are all time-consuming, adding to an already busy schedule.
AI can help with repetitive tasks, acting as a virtual assistant to teachers and lightening the load. However, it’s important to note that educators will need to think about the suitability of AI for sensitive tasks, and check over any output to make sure it’s correct.
Cons
Reduction in critical thinking
Perhaps one of the biggest concerns about AI use in schools isn’t related to the teachers, but rather to students. Since this tech isn’t restricted to professional use only, students are easily able to use it to generate answers at home. Whilst there’s no harm in using it to summarize and answer quick questions, AI is not a replacement for critical thinking and learning. Some people are concerned that easy access to AI will result in a generation of students who are reliant on technology, rather than knowing core theories themselves.
There’s also the issue of misinformation. AI is trained on huge amounts of data, but there’s currently very little regulation to prevent errors and deliberate misinformation entering the system. This can lead to children learning incorrect ‘facts’ and taking them as truth.
Widening of the digital divide
AI is only accessible via a computer, smartphone or other digital device – and many models need internet connectivity to function. All of these assumptions are fine for many affluent schools and students, but for those where money is tight, reliance on AI may be a problem. Students may need to share devices in the classroom, or won’t have access to the relevant technology at home.
This can cause a widening of the digital divide. This term originally referred to people without cell phones, but as the availability of technology like AI increases, so too does the gap. In the education sector, this could cause variability in results both in the same classroom, and on a wider level, across school districts.
References:
K, Meehirr. (2023, June 6). How AI is personalizing education for every student. eLearning zIndustry. https://elearningindustry.com/how-ai-is-personalizing-education-for-every-student
Studocu. (2024, January 17). The University Student’s Guide to Ethical AI Use. Studocu Blog. https://www.studocu.com/blog/en/university-students-guide-to-ethical-ai-use
Taylor, K. (2023, August 16). The Digital Divide: What It Is, and What's Being Done to Close It. Investopedia. https://www.investopedia.com/the-digital-divide-5116352