AI challenges students, staff to find balance between ethics, efficiency
‘Artificial’ used to be most commonly seen on processed goods, but now a more powerful and pervasive force has encroached on the title. Artificial intelligence (AI) refers to computer systems that replicate human learning, creativity, and critical thinking to perform tasks as wide-ranging as categorizing objects, driving, or using language. With new smartphone updates and security apparatuses implementing AI, it is exceedingly clear that people are becoming reliant on these systems. AI software like ChatGPT, which can be used, among other things, to conduct research, edit and produce writing, and summarize texts, has found especially widespread use among students.
The Oshkosh Area School District (OASD) has its own take on AI’s usefulness. “AI systems should be used in ways that respect the privacy or sensitive information of oneself or others. AI tools should be used in ways that support learning, rather than ways that encourage academic dishonesty, such as plagiarism or cheating,”reads the OASD Artificial Intelligence (AI) Guidance for Students from its website.
The district is not opposed to the use of AI, but wants to use it in a way that will benefit both staff and students. English teacher William Brydon believes that there is an important place for AI usage in classrooms.
“I'm in favor of teaching students how to use it in a positive way, since it's going to be a part of our lives whether you like it or not,” he said. “We should be looking at how we can use it in the right ways to maximize our time and efficiency and find the positive uses for it.”
Artificial intelligence is often cast in a negative light, especially in educational environments. However, AI can be used to help students get started on projects or resolve technical issues to perfect their writing. Sophomore Stella Schwersenska recently used AI to find sources for a project.
“I was unable to find out a certain piece of information about Korean wedding traditions that I needed for a presentation, so I went to ChatGPT and I was able to find out what I needed,” she said.
AI can also be used in instances where a teacher is unavailable to help a student, like when they are studying or completing assignments at home. Schwersenska sees the value of such uses of technology.
“I don’t think that it should be used for getting the answers to questions, but I have used it myself when a teacher is not available for me to ask a question,” she said.
Brydon agrees that AI is definitely a time saver, although he does see limits to its usefulness.
“I would never have it do its lesson planning for me, because I think that’s where you need your professional judgment and your training and your humanity,” he said. “It’s a fine line to walk.”
Timothy Kohl, who works with technology integration in the district, shared some of the biggest fears about the increasing use of AI by the current generation of students.
“The biggest thing that students are going to be watched for is plagiarism, watched for AI-generated material,” he said. “That's probably the number one worry for teachers. The fear is it’s happening so fast and without guidance that many students may not be using AI appropriately.”
Kohl believes that, with proper integration of approved AI, it can be a tool used to students’ benefit by streamlining learning.
“What we’re going to try to do is we’re going to incorporate AI into things that we’re already doing so that it’s almost seamless and so it becomes part of our learning and growing as a district of students and teachers,” he said.
Brydon also sees some negatives to AI.
“We’ve seen assignments completed by artificial intelligence, which is an opportunity to have a conversation about why we don't want it to replace student thinking, but rather enhance it,” he said. “We want to know what you're capable of. It shouldn't take the place of us, but rather help us.”
One of the major difficulties is knowing what will be the most beneficial to students and teachers alike, especially given the rapid evolution of this technology.
“When it comes down to the learning piece, I think you're going to see Magic School or School AI or Brisk Learning or Gemini, to keep it safe,” Kohl said. “I could see Google having something for students that will keep everything safe. But right now there’s just so much and we don't want to pick one right now, because there might be something better.”
by Kathryn Schievert and Dania Mian
Published November 4th, 2024
Oshkosh West Index Volume 121 Issue II