Schools changing their tone when it comes to AI use
Whether we like it or not, artificial intelligence (AI) appears as though it’s here to stay. It’s become increasingly likely we will all have to either adapt or fall behind, and local school systems are attempting to get ahead of the curve by embracing the technology rather than dissuading students from using it.
Many of our local school systems have had restrictive AI-use policies in place for the past few years, mainly to deter cheating on assignments and to prevent certain skills from being essentially replaced by the technology. Now, we’re seeing systems like Sheffield City Schools stress “proper use” over prohibiting AI altogether.
Meanwhile in Franklin County, school systems haven’t been adaptive to change – at least not yet.
Russellville City Schools’ policy regarding AI states while the “tools will help shape the future of work, research and technology,” it “can stand in conflict with academic integrity” when used improperly.
Franklin County Schools, on the other hand, does not appear to have an AI policy in place as one can’t be found in the latest version of their student handbook.
A study conducted by Campbell University earlier this year found that roughly 86% of students use AI in some way, with ChatGPT being the most popular tool. Meanwhile, 61% of the faculty surveyed in the study have used AI, but 88% of those did so “minimally” in their teachings.
Of those surveyed, an “overwhelming majority” listed the potential diminishment of critical thinking and reading comprehension as their main concerns with the growing use of AI.
There are legitimate reasons to pursue the use of AI in certain fields, especially to help speed up gathering information and statistics. There have even been some intriguing uses of AI in the health care industry as well.
Encouraging the use of those tools in schools, however, could be an incredibly slippery slope.
What guardrails are in place to assure students are still thinking for themselves as opposed to allowing the computer to do the thinking for them? Are teachers even equipped with the knowledge about various AI programs to relay to students how to safely use them?
There are a plethora of questions and concerns when it comes to the use of AI, and it would be best to have those questions and concerns taken care of before school officials begin welcoming the tools into the classroom. So in that respect, the slower pace to accept AI being taken by Franklin County and Russellville school officials could allow more time to deal with problems that might be overlooked in the rush to get policies in place.
AI is going to play a major role in all our lives moving forward – for better or for worse – and school systems need to find ways to use it properly without diminishing the actual work students and teachers do.
Let’s just hope that encouraging the use of AI programs to assist with schoolwork doesn’t lessen the work ethic or critical thinking aspect of the next generation and those to follow.
