Tools & Resources: Concern About the Impact of AI on Students

Educators discussed the potential negative impacts of AI on students’ work, specifically its effects on authenticity and innovation in student writing. Throughout these discussions, the lack of educator input in the design and implementation of AI tools in the classroom was highlighted as a pain point. This demonstrates that educators value the validation of their peers when incorporating new technology.

  • “We cannot ask students to invest themselves in writing with authenticity and innovation in an education system that is leaning increasingly into automation and standardization. More AI tools for writing/grading [means] FAR less authenticity and innovation in student writing.” —High School English Teacher in Oregon
    • “Zero doubt that tools exist to save time already, and they will likely be improved and amplified even more in the years ahead. But there is going to be a cost and I don’t think we’re talking about that cost nearly enough with all this rush towards AI infusion in education…” —High School English Teacher in Oregon
    • “Say more! People in tech need to especially value the voices of those in the actual arena. These tools seem like an obvious help from the outside and yet they also obviously aren’t. A real conversation about this from teachers specifically in the writing space would be hugely useful to those learning about AI, building AI tools, rejecting AI tools, unaware of AI tools, etc. Who is the right person to lead this convo?” —Educator, N/A
      • “Voices of those who have left the classroom and those who were never even in the classroom dominate all conversations and decisions in education—including this one. I have zero faith that this will change, especially given the rapid pace of adoption we are seeing.” —High School English Teacher in Oregon
    • “I think this is a breadth/depth issue. The ubiquity and ease of access of AI tools is creating less authenticity. What we need to do is allow students to dive deeply into an AI tool, explore it, learn it, see what it’s good at or not. Only then do they have true autonomy over AI as a tool.” —Teacher in New Jersey
  • “I am all for technology in the classroom with school issued devices. As students get older and progress through school, we need to work on digital, AI, and data literacy so students can navigate our ever increasing digitalized world.” —Educator in California