AI is now part of everyday life – and we’re all learning as we go.
Used well, AI tools such as ChatGPT can give kids different ways of looking at information, or help them organize ideas, but when used carelessly, they can replace effort, creativity, and critical thinking, and make it harder for kids to learn by themselves.
A yearlong study by the Center for Universal Education at the Brookings Institution found that, given the current trajectory of generative AI and its use in education, the potential risks to students overshadow the benefits. But it’s not all bad news; the report explains that it’s not too late to “bend the arc of AI use”. With mindful use and guidance, AI can be used to support, rather than harm, kids’ learning and development.
It’s becoming increasingly common for schools to have AI policies in place. Before reading on, it’s worth checking if your child’s school has an AI policy – and what it covers – so you can make sure their use of AI at home aligns with what’s expected in the classroom.
How might kids use AI for schoolwork?
Given how versatile and widely used AI has become, kids could potentially use it in almost every part of their learning – but it’s becoming clearer that it’s not a good idea to rely on AI for all tasks, as this can limit a child’s ability to develop their own creativity, critical thinking, and deeper knowledge on any given subject.
There are many ways kids can use AI in a school setting, without it taking away valuable learning opportunities. For example, they can use AI tools to:
- Get explanations for concepts that are more difficult to understand, and offer alternative examples.
- Brainstorm ideas or provide prompts that help children organize their thoughts
- Break down steps in science or math problems
- Support planning or offer ideas for homework structure
- Explore new topics and dig deeper into their interests
- Personalize learning according to their individual needs
- Translate text or make it simpler
- Create multi-media content like music, videos, or photos
AI in education: the downsides
Like with many aspects of technology, the value of AI in learning is not black and white. While it can certainly be helpful, AI must be used responsibly by students or else its cons may overshadow the pros.
If a child uses AI tools irresponsibly for schoolwork, they might:
- Skip the thinking and problem-solving activities they need to do to learn
- Relay answers that are inaccurate or biased
- Produce work that doesn’t reflect the child’s real ability or their individual voice and style
- Become overreliant on AI tools and feel less confident in doing work alone
- Not retain or remember information
- Develop only a shallow understanding of the subject
- Form emotional bonds with an AI chatbot.
What might overreliance on AI look like?
Kids becoming overly reliant on ChatGPT and other AI tools is a common concern among parents regarding this powerful technology – because if a child simply submits an answer (or even a whole essay) produced entirely by generative AI, you’d question what they’ve actually learned, or what problem-solving skills they’ve practiced.
If a child is becoming overdependent on AI tools to complete their schoolwork, a parent might notice that they go straight to AI for support without trying on their own, get frustrated when AI asks too many follow-up questions, struggle to explain their work in their own words, or present work that doesn’t match their usual style or ability. When they have to work without AI, they might show a lack of understanding and knowledge on the subject or topic, and therefore a lack of confidence in their answers and abilities.
5 tips to help kids use AI for school work – without compromising learning
1. Set expectations. Talk to kids about what AI can and can’t do. For example, AI can explain concepts in different ways, but it can’t replace real understanding.
2. Check the accuracy of AI responses together. Look over the answers AI gives your child and talk about them. Challenge them to find the same information in their textbook or from a trusted source. This helps kids learn to fact-check and think critically, instead of assuming everything AI spits out is correct.
3. Agree on smart boundaries. For example, you could allow your child to use AI to help them brainstorm, but not write out full answers. Or, they can use AI to structure an essay, but not write it for them.
4. Encourage effort and curiosity, not “perfect” answers. When your child works through answers themselves, or spends time researching something away from AI, celebrate this – and not the final answer. This is especially important if you feel they’ve become overreliant on AI.
5. Discuss AI as a companion: Even general-use bots, like ChatGPT, can begin to feel familiar and friendly after a while. Encourage them to think of AI as a piece of technology, not a human being. Emphasize the importance of having trusted peers and adults to turn to.
AI in education: final thoughts
AI is intuitive, easy to access, and seemingly perfect for students who want to take shortcuts in their schoolwork. Using AI excessively and/or irresponsibly can indeed hinder valuable learning opportunities – but, when used with smart boundaries and the goal of learning more not less, it can help a child understand difficult concepts, inspire creativity and curiosity, and more.
As powerful as it is, we should treat AI as another aspect of our children’s digital life. By helping them build healthy and safe AI habits now, we’re encouraging responsible and balanced use in the future.
