Exploring A.I.

Author: Nyles Madison

AI is becoming a big part of classrooms, it has its ups and downs. In this paper we cover the pros, cons, and reasons that teachers and students might use generative AI for. 

As lots of you all know, AI is easy to access, and even easier to use. This brings lots of benefits to the classroom, for teachers, they have easy access to new lessons, which can help if they are in a time crunch. They can personalize learning for students in the blink of an eye, while keeping it fair and at level for everyone. This provides a better learning experience and environment for everyone. I find this very helpful for Montessori teachers, because they have multiple grades to cater to, which can be challenging, stressful and time consuming.  

But, AI in school isn’t all sunshine and rainbows. Teachers could potentially over rely on AI when it comes to lessons, and this could mean teaching something they don’t understand which isn’t a very good environment to learn in. Another concern would be using wrong or biased information; so while it's useful it also is important that teachers keep the human side of teaching in mind.

The use of AI among students has brought many advantages to education. One major benefit is that AI can provide personalized learning experiences. For instance, AI tools can adapt to a student's learning speed and style, offering extra help in areas where they struggle and more advanced material when they excel. Additionally, AI powered platforms like language translators, tutoring apps, and research assistants make learning more accessible and efficient; helping students save time and understand complex topics more easily.

However, there are also several drawbacks to students using AI. One concern is that heavy reliance on AI tools can reduce critical thinking and creativity, as students might depend on technology to generate answers instead of developing their own ideas. Moreover AI can sometimes provide incorrect or biased information which can mislead learners if they are not careful. The lack of human interaction in AI based learning can affect communication skills.

Lastly, the ethical and privacy issues surrounding AI use in education cannot be ignored. Many AI platforms collect user data, raising concerns about how students' personal information is stored and used. There is also the risk of academic dishonesty, as AI can be used to complete assignments or essays without genuine effort from students. Therefore, while AI has the potential to enhance learning it must be used responsibly with proper guidance from teachers and awareness from students to ensure it promotes genuine learning.