Orlando, Fla. (Ivanhoe Newswire) — AI is quickly becoming part of the school routine. One recent report found 86 percent of students and 85 percent of teachers used AI during the 2024\u20132025 school year. It can help with brainstorming, studying, and feedback but some researchers worry it may also make students less likely to do the thinking for themselves. A study in the British Journal of Educational Technology found tools like Chat GPT may promote what researchers call \u201cmetacognitive laziness,\u201d or a dependence on the technology that can get in the way of deeper learning. <\/p>\n
Ask AI to explain a math problem, summarize a chapter, or brainstorm an essay. While AI can help students study or check their work, it can also make it easy to skip the thinking part.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m sure a lot of kids would be honest, but others won\u2019t be,\u201d said John Burford IV, Founder and President of Magnolia Prep. <\/p>\n
Some of the easiest ways to cheat: tell AI to write your essay for you. Some college admissions departments are even scratching their essay requirements due to concerns that students are using AI. It\u2019s also common to use AI for online tests or to answer homework questions. <\/p>\n
\u201cLike okay, I\u2019m just going to upload this worksheet, and they\u2019ll just do everything for me,\u201d said Burford. <\/p>\n
So how can you help your child navigate AI? Start with a simple rule: AI can help you learn, but it can\u2019t do the learning for you.<\/p>\n
\u201cJust kind of laying out like, \u2018Hey listen, I know that yes, you\u2019re technically able to do so and so, but it\u2019s wrong and you shouldn\u2019t,\u2019\u201d explained Burford. <\/p>\n
Be specific about what\u2019s off-limits and if your child uses AI, make sure they can still explain the answer in their own words.<\/p>\n
Next, teach them to use AI as a coach, not a ghostwriter.<\/p>\n
That means using it to brainstorm, build a study guide, or get feedback on a draft they wrote themselves. And make \u201cverify it\u201d part of the routine. AI can be wrong, so if it gives an answer, have your child check it against class notes, the textbook, or a trusted source from the teacher. <\/p>\n
And one more thing to watch for this school year: if your child\u2019s writing suddenly sounds nothing like them, overly formal, vague, or filled with words they\u2019d never use, that may be a clue AI did more of the work than it should have.<\/p>\n
Contributors to this news report include: Julie Marks, Producer; Bob Walko, Editor.<\/p>\n