In an ever-evolving world, change is inevitable. Technological advancements, albeit ushering in progress and advancements, also bring forth unavoidable drawbacks. In the academic scene, the emergence of one particular change is poised to reshape the field’s landscape—Artificial Intelligence. Whether this represents an expansion of horizons or a growth limitation remains unclear. As Artificial Intelligence weaves into the academic fabric, what does Santiago’s faculty think about this integration?
ChatGPT, Grammarly, Quillbot, TutorAI, and Brisk are some of the students’ most commonly used AI extensions. Although the rise of artificial intelligence began in the 21st century, it was first introduced in the educational field in 1965 at Stanford University with the PLATO computer program, designed to teach students basic mathematical and scientific concepts. Since then, AI has continually evolved to support educational practices. “I’ve used it for Physics, and it provides a good conceptual understanding,” noted Mr. Rodriguez, a Physics teacher at Santiago. Regarding its integration into the American education system, in 2020, the Department of Education launched research centered on the various uses of generative AI. It produced a comprehensive report entitled “Artificial Intelligence and the Future of Teaching and Learning,” detailing the impacts of Artificial Intelligence.
Consequently, the Consortium for Policy Research in Education noted in an article that countries like Korea, Finland, and Singapore have begun integrating Artificial Intelligence into the national curriculum. Investing heavily in the new technology’s impact on education and other fields to position their country in the lead for innovation and advancements.
According to a survey conducted by Forbes, at least 60 percent of teachers have integrated AI into their daily teaching practices. Some of Santiago’s teachers relate to this integration. In an interview, Mrs. Larson, a Journalism teacher at Santiago, said, “I find that I’m able to save time on tasks that previously took me a lot longer.” Mr. Flemming, a Language Arts teacher at Santiago, shares the same sentiments, believing that Artificial Intelligence is a “huge time saver.” Beyond saving time, both teachers see AI as a powerful tool that enhances productivity and fosters creativity in lesson planning and student engagement.
Mr. Flemming also believes that this integration comes with endless possibilities. “Endless possibilities, to be honest. Teacher-based AI extensions for Chrome, like Brisk, and tools like ChatGPT, provide teachers with resources to improve student learning,” he noted in a written questionnaire. One of the most lauded features of Artificial Intelligence among educators is its ability to be customized according to students’ needs. This paves the way for a personalized learning framework that caters to the needs of each student. Teachers who participated in interviews all collectively implied, if not directly stated, that Artificial Intelligence promotes efficiency for students and educators. Educators who have integrated AI into their classrooms found it especially useful in generating lesson plans, creative teaching concepts, and even examinations and assessments.
Apart from those benefits, educators have also used Artificial Intelligence to make classes more interactive. In a breakdown by Forbes, 51% of the everyday use of Artificial Intelligence is through AI-powered educational games. Quizizz, Gimkit, and Blooket are just a few examples of engaging and enjoyable educational games available online. Other uses of AI, according to the same surveying body, include adaptive learning platforms, automated grading and feedback systems, intelligent tutoring systems, and chatbots for student support. These features, according to Mrs. Larson, “allow teachers to do more than they could have done before.” Mr. Rodriguez also believes AI is an excellent tool for peer tutoring and reviewing student work. A May 2023 survey revealed that 75% of students believe that AI applications like ChatGPT help them learn faster, and 73% of teachers agree with this.
One drawback that both critics and educators alike seem to share is academic dishonesty. Critics argue that AI’s ability to produce human-like answers and replicate intricate computer codes opens a loophole for exploitation. Mr. Murray, a World History teacher at Santiago, echoed this sentiment. According to him, the primary disadvantage of the presence of Artificial Intelligence is “plagiarism and dependence on technology.” Mr. Flemming also noted that “with limitless resources at their disposal, it’s essentially a constant state of trying to monitor work for authenticity.”
Since the emergence of AI, various ethical concerns have also arisen. Aside from plagiarism and academic dishonesty, educators and critics believe that the presence and availability of AI in the educational scene makes students dependent on it, leading them to rely on generated ideas and answers instead of challenging themselves to think and solve problems. Particularly AI-written essays and AI-solved mathematical and scientific problems. These hinder students’ argumentative and problem-solving skills. Educators contend that students using AI to think for them stunts their intellectual growth. It does not foster critical or creative thinking among students. Despite AI’s vast potential, there are aspects of human nature it cannot replicate—creativity and authenticity. It has also been proven that AI is not 100% accurate and may sometimes feed false information to students. Testimonies from professionals in the scientific and legal fields have demonstrated instances where Artificial Intelligence generated inaccurate or misleading content. These are the primary reasons why Artificial Intelligence has been banned in certain school districts in Seattle, New York, and Los Angeles.
Despite these drawbacks, there is more to artificial intelligence that the education sector could benefit from, so educators disagree with banning artificial intelligence in schools. However, their agreement comes with certain limitations, as they think further improvements should be made in monitoring academic honesty and limiting the use of Artificial Intelligence to avoid restricting students’ growth and critical thinking. Teachers believe there are greater strides the education sector must take to fully take advantage of Artificial Intelligence without falling prey to its limitations and disadvantages.
AI is here to stay. There is no going back from this advancement. The emergence of Artificial Intelligence is a testament to human expansion into new horizons. It has become a crucial part of the daily functioning of the academic scene and is slowly cementing itself in the very foundation of our system. Students and teachers must learn how to harness this technology to make the most of it. Above all, what transcends technological advancements is humanity—it is one thing no amount of technological progress can replicate. The key to reshaping this world lies in learning to live in harmony with technology and humanity and seamlessly intertwining them to expand into new horizons.
