AI has recently become a part of every aspect of our lives, from school to sports and more. It’s changing the way we live and learn. In schools, teachers are using AI to create assignments, and students often use it to help with their homework. But the question still stands: Is AI really the best way forward for the rapidly growing AI use in education?
According to SMU’s website, “AI-driven adaptive learning represents one of the most forward-thinking applications of AI in education, transforming the educational process into a more personalized, efficient, and effective journey for learners of all kinds.”
In many schools, AI proves itself to be a strong tool. It tracks students’ progress, helps detect plagiarism, assists with grading, and supports lesson planning. This allows teachers to save more time and focus on helping students better understand their assignments by customizing learning to their own needs. AI can make teaching more efficient and learning more personalized for students.
“AI enhances student engagement by generating tailored content that resonates with their unique needs and progress. This approach not only keeps students interactive and committed to the learning process but also can improve their academic performance,” according to SMU.
However, AI is still not rid of problems that can hurt students. Some students begin to rely heavily on it, which can easily limit their ability to complete homework or solve problems in a way they understand. The overdependence can weaken important skills like critical thinking, creativity, and collaboration with others.
Another risk that surrounds the use of AI in educational environments is privacy. The University of Illinois highlights that many worry about how personal data is handled at schools, and whether students really have control over how their information is used. Data leaks and exposure of sensitive information heavily put the students’ digital safety at risk.
“Many voice concerns about how carefully their data is stored and how protected it is from being leaked. Other worries include having private and sensitive information viewed by others,” said the University of Illinois. They did a study on the pros and cons of AI in an educational environment
AI brings many benefits to education by making the learning process easier for students and making teachers’ work more efficient. But the risks, especially around privacy and over-reliance on it are real and need to be addressed. The goal for AI in educational settings should be to use it responsibly and protect students while still enhancing their learning experience. When used well, AI can help students learn better without having to sacrifice the important skills they need in order to succeed.
