EP 327: How AI is Changing the Lives of High School Students
Aug 1, 2024
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Join high school students Armaan Priyadarshan and Vasu Lakshmanan from the Massachusetts Academy of Math & Science as they dive into the transformative impact of AI on education. They discuss how AI influences college selection and affects writing processes, sparking creativity while raising ethical concerns. The duo emphasizes the need for a balanced approach to AI usage in classrooms and the importance of responsible integration to enhance learning experiences. Their insights offer a glimpse into the future generation's relationship with AI technologies.
The integration of AI in high schools presents significant educational opportunities and challenges, necessitating adaptive teaching strategies to maintain critical thinking skills.
There is a notable disparity in how students utilize AI, with some harnessing it responsibly while others risk dependency, highlighting the need for structured educational policies.
Deep dives
Impact of Generative AI on High School Education
Generative AI is significantly altering the landscape of education for high school students, presenting both opportunities and challenges. Students report wide variations in how AI is integrated into their classrooms, with some teachers fully embracing it while others impose strict bans. AI tools, like those used in humanities classes, allow students to enhance their writing and analyze their work effectively. However, this inconsistency in policy creates confusion among students, who must navigate different expectations across subjects.
AI as a Learning Tool and Its Risks
The use of AI as a learning aid has both streamlined educational processes and raised concerns about intellectual independence among students. Tools like ChatGPT enhance writing efficiency, but there's a fear that over-reliance might diminish critical thinking skills and higher-level cognitive engagement. Some students may find it easier to defer to AI for mundane tasks, potentially leading to a decline in their analytical and creative abilities. This reliance poses risks of misinformation, particularly if students don't critically evaluate the information that AI generates for their assignments.
The Future of AI in Education
As generative AI becomes an integral part of education, there is a growing consensus that schools must adapt and evolve their teaching methods. Both students believe that the education system should embrace AI while emphasizing learning how to learn, suggesting a balance between technology use and critical thinking. This integration could take inspiration from how calculators were eventually incorporated into math curricula, suggesting that creating structured environments for AI usage could be beneficial. Students envision writing assignments that leverage AI as a tool, while also fostering independent thought to maintain the value of human creativity.
Student Perspectives on AI Usage
Students express varied opinions about their peers' usage of AI, recognizing both potential and pitfalls in how it's applied. They point out that while many use AI responsibly as a brainstorming or tutoring tool, others might exploit it for shortcuts in completing assignments. This disparity could lead to an educational divide as some students grow more adept at using AI effectively while others drift toward dependency. These students advocate for a structured approach to AI in education that fosters responsible usage, thus preparing future generations for the evolving landscape of technology.
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What's currently going on with AI and high school students? How is the future FUTURE generation looking at AI? Are they using it, abusing it, or a little of both? Armaan Priyadarshan and Vasu Lakshmanan, high school students of Massachusetts Academy of Math & Science at WPI, join us to discuss.
Topics Covered in This Episode: 1.Impact of AI in High Schools 2. AI and College Selection Process 3. Risks and Benefits of AI in Education 4. Integration of AI in Education 5. Balance between AI and Human Creativity
Timestamps: 00:00 Generative AI impact on high school students. 03:59 Microsoft lists OpenAI as competitor in report. 08:03 Generative AI and language models changed education. 12:46 GPT changed word choice and writing process. 14:30 AI's impact on education and creativity. 16:59 Discussing writing assignments, creativity, and individual performance. 21:30 Promote AI ethical use through student engagement. 23:34 Using AI in college essays and testing. 28:48 Admitting to being lazy in school work. 31:20 Parents' attitudes towards AI vary with background 34:39 AI role in group work is limited.
Keywords: AI in education, high school students, learning abilities, future of education, learning how to learn, responsible AI use, creative pathways, opportunities in AI, risks in AI, AI podcast, everydayai.com, college selection process, generative AI, standardized testing, college essays, AI overreliance, misinformation, coding errors, technological advancements, AI and creativity, analytical skills, AI shortcuts, human creativity, AI integration, calculators in schools, Chat GPT, higher-level thinking, Taco Bell AI, Meta AI, OpenAI.