As technology improves, Artificial Intelligence, or AI, has become increasingly involved in education. At South, some teachers allow the use of AI in class, such as Mr. Nelson, one of the AP European History teachers. However, not everyone approves of using AI as a learning tool, as some students use it to cheat and get answers quickly.
“AI helps break down complex concepts into more digestible forms, which is invaluable for learning,” Mr. Nelson said. This is a prime example of how to use AI in a way that encourages learning.
On the other hand, AI can and is used for cheating. The definition of “cheat” is to act dishonestly or unfairly to gain an advantage. Knowing this, examples of cheating in AI would include using it to get homework answers or write essays. With AI, completing homework is easy and requires no effort, as it takes on the workload for you. This raises concerns among the school board, causing teachers to change the type of assignments given as homework.
“This shift has highlighted the need for more analytical assessments that emphasize interpretation and contextual understanding,” Mr. Nelson said.
Since using AI gives students an unfair advantage, the difficulty of schoolwork has had to increase in response. This change made it harder for students to use AI to cheat in assignments as there might not be a direct answer to the given question. So, instead of using it to get an immediate answer, students use AI to help analyze the question and come up with their own responses.
To answer the question presented earlier, the difference between using AI for cheating versus as a learning tool lies in the eyes of the student.
“The key is helping students view AI as a learning tool rather than a shortcut,” Mr. Nelson said.
While it may be acceptable to use AI to simplify difficult topics, using it to find answers is direct academic dishonesty and risks plagiarism.