Schools increasingly turned to artificial intelligence to personalize learning and make grading more efficient. By the mid-2020s, AI played a significant role globally, especially in education. Even here at Suncoast, AI changed the way students study, write and complete assignments. Many students and teachers used AI tools like ChatGPT and Quizlet to brainstorm ideas, generate study guides and more. Schools focused on establishing rules for AI and how to use it, which left some exploring while others kept their distance.
AI was a computer system that used programs to carry out tasks that would otherwise require a human’s intelligence. This included solving problems, recognizing patterns and writing essays. These programs developed written responses to complicated questions in minutes or even seconds. These tools grew in popularity over the past few years. Students all over the world used AI in school, whether good or bad.
According to Lindsey Serli from Engageli, “Students in AI-enhanced active learning programs achieve 54% higher test scores than those in traditional environments.”
AI had many notable advantages, for instance, it allowed students to access information quickly and guided students in the right direction of learning. However, there were also many downsides; students were overreliant on AI and it prompted students to submit work that was not entirely their own. Furthermore, students who used AI to merely get answers had gotten lower grades over the years. Students easily cheated using AI, but when using the correct resource, it can be very helpful. For example, Khanmigo, a well-known AI assistant from Khan Academy that was provided to students by the district, tutored students but did not give direct answers. So, the challenge for schools was finding a balance where students could use AI in education while still being responsible.
IB English teacher Michele Lackovic stated, “I think AI is a tool like any other tool, and it can be used to both enhance or shortcut learning depending on how it’s used.”
Educators argued that the problem was not the technology itself, but how the students applied it. AI not only aided students but teachers too; it helped many teachers with grading and creating assignments. In many classrooms, such as English or History, AI was used to organize ideas or help students find different ways of thinking and problem-solving.
Lackovic noted, “There are certainly ways that we can use AI to think more; it just has to be taught.”
She emphasized that learning how, when and why to use this technology prepared people for what may come in the future.
Melissa Modan, a sophomore, said, “If you use it to simply copy, obviously it’s going to make it easier, but then it also negatively impacts you in the long run because you are not going to know how to do it.”
Many students learned more when AI was used responsibly and with clear instructions, allowing it to support the students and not replace their effort. In many rigorous courses, students struggled with exams and other assignments when using AI incorrectly.
Artificial intelligence became a central part of education in many classrooms. Students and teachers used it in many different ways, some to improve their learning skills and others to complete assignments quickly. How AI shaped education depended on the choices of the individuals who used it. Some students typed faster, others thought slower.
