Learning With AI -Not From AI
I’ve always thought of AI as something that students mostly used to cheat on assignments. After looking more into it, I found that AI can actually be encouraged in the classroom, as long as it is used as a learning tool. My mom works for an online educational software company called Amira Learning, and she has been working super hard recently on their new AI tutor. Instead of generating ideas for students, it collects data to support learning outcomes. Amira tracks students’ levels and evaluates what they need help with. This is a great example of how AI can be used in the classroom as a tool.
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Watching my mom navigate AI in the classroom has helped me understand the idea of critical AI literacy, which I have been learning more and more about. Students need to learn how to use AI responsibly instead of relying on it for answers. As technology becomes a bigger part of the classroom, educators need to teach students not to trust everything they see. Students should know how to check the information AI provides and use it to help with their learning. A great TED Talk that discusses this idea is by Amy Schumacher, I LOVE the way she explains how much of an asset AI can be in the classroom.
As a future elementary teacher, I do not think AI should replace creativity, critical thinking, or problem solving. Children especially need opportunities to learn and think on their own instead of automatically using AI for help. At the same time, schools should not completely ignore AI because students are going to continue using it whether their teachers like it or not. Because of this, educators should teach students how to use AI appropriately and as a tool that supports their learning.
