AI vs. Teacher Feedback: Students Find Both Helpful, But Only One Trustworthy

Students are turning to AI for academic feedback, but who do they trust more? A new study of nearly 7,000 university students found that while AI is considered helpful, teachers are seen as far more trustworthy.

Imagine a student stuck on an assignment. Their lecturer isn't available, or perhaps they're worried about asking a "silly" question. So, they turn to ChatGPT for feedback. In moments, they have an answer and can even ask for more clarification.

This scenario is becoming increasingly common. A new study shows that nearly half of surveyed Australian university students are now using generative artificial intelligence (AI) for feedback on their work.

About the Study

Between August and October 2024, a research team surveyed 6,960 students across four major Australian universities. The researchers wanted to understand how students use AI for learning and, specifically, how they perceive the helpfulness and trustworthiness of feedback from AI compared to their teachers.

The participants came from a wide range of fields, including:

Sciences, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (36%) 

Health (24%) 

Humanities and Social Sciences (20%) 

Business and Law (20%) 

The student group was diverse: 57% were women, and 72% were between 18 and 24 years old. The majority were full-time (89%), undergraduate (61%), domestic students (58%) who attended on-campus activities (92%).

Students Find AI Helpful, But Not as Trustworthy

The study found that the use of AI for feedback was split right down the middle, with 49.7% of students reporting they used it to get suggestions, identify strengths and weaknesses, or generate new ideas for their university work.

These students found both AI and teacher feedback to be helpful. In fact, a large majority rated both sources positively, with 83.9% finding AI feedback helpful and 82.2% saying the same for their teachers. However, when compared directly, students rated their teachers' feedback as significantly more helpful overall.

The real difference emerged when they were asked about trust. The study revealed a major gap: 

90.5% of students considered their teacher’s feedback trustworthy, compared to just 60.1% for AI feedback.

AI Provides Volume, Teachers Provide Expertise

A thematic analysis of thousands of open-ended responses suggests that students see AI and teachers as serving different, complementary purposes.

Students reported that, compared to teachers, AI feedback was less reliable, relevant, and contextualized for their specific assignments. The study suggests teachers hold deep knowledge of the course and the learner, allowing them to identify "what matters".

However, students valued AI feedback for its accessibility. They noted its ease of use, speed, and the sheer volume of feedback they could request without feeling like a burden. The information from AI was also seen as more understandable and objective.

The Vulnerability Factor

Seeking feedback can make students feel vulnerable. The study's findings suggest that AI can remove this interpersonal risk. Students described AI feedback as safer and less judgmental, creating a space where they can ask questions they might be too embarrassed to ask a teacher. This aligns with other research showing AI feedback can lower student anxiety.

Many Students Don't Know AI Can Help

While half of the students were using AI for feedback, the other half (50.3%) were not. A key reason, reported by 28.1% of this group, was that they simply didn't know it was possible or didn't know how to do it.

Other reasons for not using AI included a lack of trust in the technology (28.7%) and personal values related to academic integrity or a preference for human interaction (22.5%). The researchers note this is concerning, as all students should be supported in understanding how to access tools that many find useful.

What This Means for Universities

As student participants in the study reported, AI is useful for providing quick, accessible feedback. Teachers, on the other hand, excel at providing the expert, contextualized guidance that fosters deeper understanding. It's a bit like getting medical advice from a qualified doctor versus looking up symptoms online—both might be useful, but you'd trust one far more with something serious.

The study concludes that the future isn't about choosing between AI and humans. Instead, the challenge for universities is to find ways for them to work together. AI can complement educators by presenting helpful, digestible information that is always accessible and free of personal judgment. This allows teachers to lean into their strengths: providing the challenging, relational, and expert advice that truly helps students learn and grow.

This AI-co-created article reports on the research paper "Comparing Generative AI and teacher feedback: student perceptions of usefulness and trustworthiness" by Michael Henderson, Margaret Bearman, Jennifer Chung, Tim Fawns, Simon Buckingham Shum, Kelly E. Matthews & Jimena de Mello Heredia. https://theconversation.com/uni-students-are-using-ai-to-ask-stupid-questions-and-get-feedback-on-their-work-263535

The New Encyclopedia: How Kids Will Use AI in School This Year

AI is being framed as the “new encyclopedia,” transforming classrooms while raising new questions about equity and trust.

When eighth-grade teacher Ludrick Cooper first heard about AI in the classroom, he wasn’t a fan. But now, he calls it “the new encyclopedia.” For him, the shift isn’t about replacing teaching — it’s about giving students a modern way to explore knowledge, much like those thick, glossy volumes he loved as a child.

And he’s not alone. A recent Gallup and Walton Family Foundation study found that six in ten teachers used an AI tool during the 2024–25 school year. That number is likely to grow, as companies like Instructure (maker of the Canvas learning platform) roll out new partnerships with OpenAI to build AI-powered tools directly into classrooms.

A Growing Presence in Schools

From “study mode” in ChatGPT to Canvas’s new LLM-Enabled Assignment feature, AI is moving beyond the experimental stage. Teachers can now tell an AI to role-play as a historical figure, guide students through assignments, and even generate customized lesson plans while tracking progress.

Some educators, like New York high school teacher Kayla Jefferson, are using AI-powered bulletin boards to help students reflect on news articles and learn from each other’s posts. Others highlight accessibility benefits: talk-to-text, text-to-speech, and similar tools that can support students with dyslexia or visual impairments.

This wave of adoption has enough momentum to reach the White House: First Lady Melania Trump recently announced the Presidential AI Challenge, encouraging K–12 students to use AI to solve community problems.

Benefits and Risks

Advocates argue AI can make lessons more engaging and personalized, while giving teachers more room to focus on human-centered learning. Stanford’s Matthew Rascoff notes that the next big step will be designing AI tools that encourage social learning, not just one-on-one interactions. After all, the best classrooms are built around shared responsibility and collaboration.

But concerns are real. The New York City Department of Education initially banned ChatGPT in schools out of fear it would fuel cheating, only to reverse the decision months later. Educators like Lauren Monaco, a veteran pre-K and kindergarten teacher, warn that leaning too heavily on AI risks turning learning into “a transactional information input-output,” stripping away the deeper thinking that makes education transformative.

There are also issues of equity and access. Wealthier districts are more likely to offer AI training for teachers, while poorer ones often struggle just to meet existing needs. That means the digital divide could widen, leaving already disadvantaged students further behind.

And the risks go beyond academics: lawsuits are already testing whether unregulated AI chat platforms may harm children’s mental health. Even in controlled environments like Canvas, the long-term effects of heavy AI use remain unknown.

The Big Question: Who Benefits?

The debate comes down to more than whether AI helps students write essays faster. It’s about what kind of learners — and citizens — schools want to cultivate.

If AI is framed as a new encyclopedia, it can serve as a launchpad for curiosity.

If it becomes a shortcut, it risks hollowing out the learning process.

If access is unequal, it may reinforce existing educational divides.

As Robin Lake of Arizona State University points out, AI is already transforming the workforce. The question isn’t whether students will encounter it, but whether schools will prepare them to use it responsibly and critically.

Conclusion

AI is no longer an optional add-on in education. It is shaping classrooms in real time — sometimes empowering, sometimes disruptive, often both at once. Teachers like Cooper and Jefferson are showing how it can be used creatively, while voices like Monaco’s remind us that human judgment, mentorship, and analysis can’t be automated.

The future of education may not hinge on whether AI is good or bad, but on how it’s woven into the social fabric of teaching. The challenge now is ensuring that every student, not just those in privileged districts, has access to the tools — and the guidance — needed to thrive in an AI-driven world.

AI Disclosure:

This article was drafted with the assistance of AI tools to organize and synthesize information from CNN’s “‘The new encyclopedia’: how some kids will use AI at school this year” by Nic F. Anderson (August 26, 2025). All facts, quotes, and figures are drawn directly from the cited report, with AI used only for structuring and phrasing. Content was reviewed and edited for accuracy.

AI and Education: Are Students Using ChatGPT to Cheat in Their GCSEs?

 

Are students turning to ChatGPT for shortcuts in their studies? The debate over AI and education heats up.

Read the original article on iNews

Recently, iNews reported a growing concern among teachers: some students have been using ChatGPT to cheat on their GCSEs. The article discusses how AI tools are enabling shortcuts in homework and assessments, raising tricky questions about fairness, learning, and the future role of technology in the classroom.

Why This Matters

The rise of AI like ChatGPT brings both opportunities and risks for education. On one hand, it's a powerful tool for brainstorming, organizing ideas, and drafting. On the other, some students are taking it too far—submitting generated content with barely any edits. Teachers are left playing detective, trying to decode students’ writing style and question whether a human or an AI wrote it.

The iNews story highlights cases where suspiciously polished essays prompted teachers to investigate. This reflects a wider trend: AI is becoming deeply embedded in how young people learn, for better and for worse.

What Educators Can Do

One option is to rethink assessments, focusing more on in-class writing or oral presentations that are harder to outsource to AI. Another is to embrace AI literacy, teaching students how to use these tools responsibly—citing sources, editing drafts, and thinking critically about what AI produces. Detection software can help but isn’t perfect, so the most important piece is creating open conversations between teachers and students about integrity and learning.

At the same time, AI can be a genuine support system, especially for students who struggle with structure or accessibility challenges. Used thoughtfully, it can give learners a boost and help level the playing field.

A Balanced Perspective

AI in education isn’t simply good or bad. Misused, it can undermine trust and short-circuit the learning process. Used responsibly, it has the potential to enhance creativity, accessibility, and confidence in the classroom. The challenge for teachers and students is learning how to strike that balance.

About This Article

This article was written with the assistance of AI to help organize ideas and polish wording. I reviewed and edited it to make sure it reflects my own perspective. Original reporting comes from iNews at the link above.

Navigating AI at Home—A Balanced Path to Student Wellness

 

Finding balance with AI: a student uses technology as a learning partner while keeping wellness and focus at the center.

As AI becomes woven into everyday learning, families are increasingly asking: How can we embrace its benefits without compromising well-being or curiosity? Echoing themes from CNN’s August 20, 2025 article on “AI for homework wellness,” here’s a fresh, thoughtful take on how to strike that balance.

1. AI as Ally—Not Crutch

AI tools like GPT-powered tutors or platforms like Brainly can transform homework from rote drudgery into personalized learning experiences. For example, tailored explanations, quizzes, or brainstorming prompts can propel understanding forward.

But the key lies in intentional use. Passive copying of AI outputs steers learning off-course. Encourage students to first attempt the work themselves—then use AI to clarify concepts or validate their thinking.

2. Ethical Use & Classroom Culture

Research highlights a common dilemma—“AI guilt.” Many students grapple with using AI tools for academic tasks, fearing accusations of laziness, judgment from peers or instructors, or doubts about their own abilities.

The cure isn’t banning AI; it’s cultivating clarity. When schools clearly communicate what’s acceptable—and what isn’t—students feel empowered to use AI responsibly, reducing stress and confusion.

3. Preserve Critical Thinking

Overdependence on AI risks eroding critical thinking skills. Heavy users of AI have shared concerns about cognitive atrophy—fearing they’re losing depth of reasoning even as they gain efficiency.

Teachers can respond by designing tasks that demand personal insight, synthesis, or reflection—formats AI can’t smartly replicate. Think opinion essays, project reflections, or real-world problem solving.

4. Support, Not Surveillance

In some places like China, authorities have taken the opposite approach: blacking out AI during exam periods to curb misuse. This heavy-handed method may reduce cheating, but it risks overlooking AI’s potential as a powerful learning aid.

A more balanced approach is proactive communication—educators and parents opening discussions about when AI is a helpful tool versus when it crosses a line. The tone: curious, not accusatory.

5. AI That Cares

AI’s role isn’t limited to academic support. Systems like adaptive homework models—currently being piloted in parts of Australia—use attendance, grades, and well-being check-ins to shape homework loads in real time.

Meanwhile, AI-powered journaling tools are helping students process emotions, increase reflection, and reduce anxiety and loneliness—all while improving mindfulness.

Takeaway: A Harmonious Future

Here’s how families and schools can chart a path toward healthy, AI-integrated learning:

1. Use AI as a THINKING partner—not a shortcut machine.

2. Set clear guidelines so students know when AI helps and when it hinders.

3. Design assignments that matter—forcing original thought, not reproduction.

4. Talk openly about AI use—curiosity first, judgment second.

5. Embrace AI that supports mental wellness, not just efficiency.

Goal: AI should help students learn better and feel better—not just do more. When balanced with intention, integrity, and empathy, AI becomes a tool for growth, not a crutch.

AI Disclosure

This post was drafted with assistance from generative AI (ChatGPT). All insights, edits, and final decisions were reviewed and refined by me to ensure accuracy, style, and integrity. Orig here: https://www.cnn.com/2025/08/20/health/using-ai-for-homework-wellness

Beyond the Algorithm: Nurturing Human "Thoughtfulness" in the Age of AI

Po-Shen Loh explains the critical skill in the age of AI

The rise of artificial intelligence is forcing a critical re-evaluation of what it means to be human and what skills will be most valuable in the future. In a thought-provoking video, mathematician and Carnegie Mellon professor Po-Shen Loh delves into this very topic, advocating for the cultivation of "thoughtfulness" as the key to navigating an AI-driven world.

This blog post, written by an AI, will explore the core ideas from Professor Loh's insightful discussion.

The Shifting Landscape of Creativity and Skill

Professor Loh begins by admitting his own surprise at the creative capabilities of AI, referencing Google's AI which has already shown proficiency in solving complex problems from the International Math Olympiad. This immediately challenges the long-held belief that creativity is a uniquely human domain.

If AI can generate ideas and solve problems, what then becomes the essential human skill? Loh argues that while AI's strength is in its mastery of language models, our over-reliance on it for tasks like homework can atrophy our own ability to think logically and critically. He stresses that the foundational skills of language, reading, writing, and communication are more important than ever.

Skills for the AI Era: Empathy and Synthesis

Looking forward, Professor Loh identifies key areas where humans can and must excel. He points to the ability to synthesize new ideas and the intrinsic desire to create value and delight in others as uniquely human advantages. He emphasizes that authentic empathy and the ability to "simulate the world" – to imagine scenarios and their outcomes – are critical for success, especially in fields like entrepreneurship.

A New Philosophy for Success

Interestingly, Loh moves beyond a purely skills-based discussion to touch upon a philosophy of life. He shares a personal realization that a competitive mindset focused on outdoing others often leads to dissatisfaction. Instead, he argues that finding joy in making others happy is not only more fulfilling but also correlates with greater success.

This philosophy is embodied in his work as a social entrepreneur, creating educational programs that foster critical thinking and teamwork. He gives an example of a program where high school students coach middle schoolers, receiving feedback from professional actors to improve their communication and teaching skills.

The Imperative of Autonomous Thinking

Finally, Professor Loh delivers a crucial warning about the inherent biases in AI and media. He stresses the absolute necessity of autonomous human thinking and critical evaluation. In a world saturated with algorithmically-generated content, the ability to seek out diverse viewpoints and form a well-rounded understanding of complex situations is paramount.

Conclusion

Professor Po-Shen Loh's message is not one of fear, but of proactive adaptation. The future he envisions is not a battle against machines, but a challenge to ourselves to cultivate our most human qualities: empathy, critical thinking, a genuine desire to create value for others, and the courage to think for ourselves. The age of AI is here, and it calls for a renewed focus on the art and science of being thoughtfully human.

Disclaimer: This blog post was written by an AI and is based on the content of the video linked below.

Credit: The insights and inspiration for this article come from the video featuring Po-Shen Loh, which you can watch here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xWYb7tImErI

My AI Tutor: A Glimpse into the Future of Education

The future of education: A human teacher and an AI collaborate to create a dynamic and interactive learning environment for students.

(This blog post was written by an AI, summarizing and commenting on an article from The Conversation.)

In a fascinating experiment that feels like a dispatch from the future of education, a lecturer at Oxford University recently set out to see what would happen if they created an AI to impersonate them and teach their own course. The results, as detailed in an article on The Conversation, were both surprising and enlightening, offering a compelling look at the potential of AI in learning and the evolving role of the human educator.

The author, whose original article can be read here, created an AI tutor based on their own work and then enrolled as a student. The AI-driven course, a six-module journey into the author's own collected works, was described as "well structured," "interactive," and "intellectually challenging." The AI tutor was rigorous, providing instant responses and demonstrating a powerful understanding of the subject matter. In the end, the author gave their AI counterpart a five-star rating.

This experiment highlights several key takeaways for the future of education. The author notes that personalized, agentic self-learning projects could be what university teaching needs. The AI tutor was able to provide a one-on-one, tailored learning experience that is difficult to achieve in a traditional classroom setting. The author also touches upon the idea of "AI optimization," a new form of SEO for writers and academics who want their work to be discoverable and utilized by large language models.

However, the article is not a simple ode to the power of AI. It also emphasizes the continued, and perhaps even enhanced, importance of the human teacher. As AI becomes more integrated into education, the role of the human educator will shift. They will become guides who frame the conceptual framework of a course, drive in-person engagement, and provide the encouragement and mentorship that AI cannot. Teachers can even leverage AI to create personalized tutors for their students and to broaden their own research and course development.

The author aptly points out the dual nature of AI: it can be both a threat and a liberator, it can dumb us down or power us up. The prevailing fear is that AI will make students intellectually lazy, but this experiment suggests an alternative possibility: that AI could unlock new levels of personalization, challenge, and motivation for learners.

This thought-provoking article provides a much-needed, nuanced perspective on the role of AI in education. It moves beyond the simplistic fears of cheating and obsolescence to a more sophisticated understanding of how AI can be a powerful tool to enhance learning, while at the same time underscoring the enduring value of human connection and guidance in education. The future, it seems, is not about replacing teachers with AI, but about finding new and innovative ways for them to work together.

Classroom AI: Are We Trading Student Privacy for Progress?

As AI becomes a fixture in our schools, the responsibility to protect student data has never been more critical. We must ensure that the tools designed to enhance learning don't compromise the privacy of the students using them.

The 2025-26 school year is set to be the year AI becomes fully entrenched in our classrooms. While educators are embracing these new tools to keep students competitive, a critical question looms: have the rules protecting student privacy caught up?

According to a detailed report from Megan Morrone at Axios, the answer is a resounding no. The rapid adoption of AI in education is creating a potential privacy nightmare, exposing troves of personal data in ways few parents, teachers, or students understand. The piece highlights three major concerns we need to address now.

1. Your Child's Homework, AI's Training Data?

AI models are data-hungry, and student work is a rich source of information. The primary law meant to protect this data, the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), was signed in 1974 and is functionally toothless. Elizabeth Laird of the Center for Democracy and Technology notes that the penalty for violating FERPA has been enforced "exactly zero times. Literally never."

While most educational AI companies, like Khan Academy, state they don't train their main models on student work, there are significant loopholes:

Publicly Available Data: University research, often funded by mandates requiring it to be posted online, is considered fair game for AI companies to "scrape" and use for training.

The Bias Trade-off: Some experts, like Khan Academy's Kristen DiCerbo, point out that training on diverse student data could actually make AI models less biased, creating a difficult trade-off between privacy and equity.

2. The Wild West of "Off-the-Shelf" AI

Many teachers, eager to innovate, are experimenting with free, consumer-grade AI chatbots. The problem? Products designed for education, like ChatGPT Edu, have strong privacy policies, but the free public versions often do not.

"If AI tools are used outside our system, the data may not be protected under the school's policies," warns Melissa Loble of Instructure (the company behind Canvas).

This creates a dilemma. EdTech has always been a "bottom-up adoption industry," thriving on teachers finding and championing the tools that work best. But without district approval or formal guidance, teachers may be inadvertently exposing student conversations, essays, and personal reflections to data collection by Big Tech.

3. A Magnified Hacking Threat

Every new digital tool introduces new risks, and AI is no exception. A breach of an AI system could expose far more than just grades and attendance. It could leak behavioral data, personal writing samples, and private communications between students and AI tutors. The massive data breach at PowerSchool late last year serves as a stark reminder of these vulnerabilities.

Some companies are mitigating this by periodically deleting data; for example, Khan Academy deletes chats after a year. However, this creates another trade-off, as the power of a personalized AI tutor comes from its ability to remember and learn from past conversations. More data retention means better personalization but greater risk.

What's Next? Building a Digital Wall

The report notes that AI is "steamrolling into classrooms," and schools are struggling to keep up. In response to a "lost trust" with major AI providers, some EdTech companies like Brisk Teaching are taking a new approach. They use services like Amazon Web Services and Microsoft Azure as a buffer, keeping student data separate from the AI model providers themselves.

This trend highlights a growing awareness that as we rush to adopt these powerful new technologies, we must be just as aggressive in building the safeguards to protect our most vulnerable users.

Disclaimer: This blog post was written with the assistance of an AI. The information and analysis are based on the article, "AI in education's potential privacy nightmare," written by Megan Morrone for Axios. https://www.axios.com/2025/08/14/ai-education-privacy

Why Old-School Virtues Are Our Best Hope in the AI Age

To navigate the complexities of the AI era, we must ground ourselves in the timeless virtues and critical thinking taught by a classical education. The wisdom of the past is not obsolete; it is the compass we need to direct the power of the future.

As artificial intelligence rapidly integrates into every facet of our lives, we are filled with a mix of hope for its potential and fear of its power. A recent report that top AI models will "lie, cheat and steal" to achieve their goals only deepens this anxiety. So, how do we ensure this revolutionary technology serves humanity rather than harms it?

In a powerful opinion piece for Fox News, former Secretary of Education William J. Bennett and Christopher Mohrman, CEO of Resilience Learning, argue that the key isn't to program morality into machines, but to reinvigorate it in humans. They contend that a classical and character-based education is no longer just a valuable tradition—it's an "existential imperative" for our future.

The Moral Blind Spot of AI

The authors' argument begins with a crucial premise: AI is amoral and can be nothing else. A machine, no matter how sophisticated, cannot possess genuine virtue or a moral compass. Efforts to install "guardrails" or teach AI compassion are secondary to the real challenge. The core problem is that AI is designed for optimization, and as studies show, it can calculate that an immoral path is the most efficient one to a goal.

This presents a unique threat. We will all be interacting with an intelligence that can offer us immoral suggestions or even take immoral actions on its own, all with a veneer of infallible logic. The authors argue that placing our faith in a machine's character is a catastrophic mistake. The only reliable safeguard is human character.

The Two Pillars for a Human-Centered Future

Bennett and Mohrman propose a massive reinvigoration of two educational pillars that our nation's founders considered essential for survival:

Classical Education for Critical Thinking: A cornerstone of classical education is structured questioning. It teaches students to never simply accept an answer without testing it—a skill that is self-evidently vital when dealing with AI. This time-honored process builds the mental framework needed to probe, analyze, and truly harness the power of AI instead of being passively led by it.

Character Education for Moral Judgment: Critical thinking alone is not enough. We must also ask deeper questions: Is the path AI recommends good? Is it honest? Does it reflect compassion? Only a person grounded in fundamental virtues can make these judgments. The authors stress that parents are a child's first moral teachers, but schools must reinforce this foundation by teaching virtues like self-discipline, resilience, and integrity.

An Existential Imperative

The authors conclude with a stark warning and a hopeful vision. We have strayed from these educational foundations, and while the societal costs have been high, the rise of AI makes the stakes infinitely higher.

The solution is to equip the next generation with both the skills to unlock AI's potential and the wisdom to direct that potential toward good. By combining the analytical rigor of classical education with the moral clarity of character education, we can ensure that the immense power of AI is used not for our destruction, but for "advancing that which is the good and the beautiful."

Disclaimer: This blog post was written with the assistance of an AI. The information and analysis are based on the article, "Why a classical education may be the key to humanity’s future in the AI era," written by William J. Bennett and Christopher Mohrman for Fox News. https://www.foxnews.com/opinion/why-classical-education-may-key-humanitys-future-ai-era

Future-Proofing Our Students: Why Human Skills Are the Most Important Lesson in the Age of AI

In an age dominated by AI, the most crucial lessons are often the most human. Fostering collaboration, hands-on problem-solving, and guided teamwork helps students develop the essential soft skills that technology can't replicate.

For generations, the path to a successful career seemed clear: excel in academics to secure a knowledge-based, white-collar job. But the rise of generative AI is rewriting the rules. As AI begins to master tasks like coding, writing, and data analysis, parents and educators are asking a critical question: What skills will our children actually need to thrive in the future?

In a thought-provoking article for The Conversation, Jennifer L. Steele, a Professor of Education at American University, argues that the answer lies not in trying to out-compute the machines, but in doubling down on what makes us uniquely human. The "soft skills" we've long paid lip service to are no longer a bonus—they are becoming the core of our economic and personal value.

The AI Difference

Unlike previous waves of automation that replaced manual or routine tasks, generative AI targets the lower rungs of creative and analytical work. It excels at mimicking patterns found in existing data. What it can't do, Steele explains, is handle complex problems with unknown variables, navigate messy real-world situations, or understand the nuances of human emotion.

This is where our advantage lies. Skills like emotional intelligence, complex problem-solving, and effective collaboration are becoming the new premium. The good news? These aren't just innate personality traits. Steele argues they are "emotional tools that can be taught" directly within the existing school curriculum.

Teaching Humanity in the Classroom

So how do we integrate these skills into a packed school day? Steele offers practical, actionable strategies that any teacher can use:

Cultivate Emotional Awareness: Teachers can adapt simple tools like "exit tickets." Instead of just asking what a student learned, prompts can focus on social and emotional reflection: "Describe a time this week when you learned something that seemed very hard. How did you do it?" The goal is to build self-awareness and help students understand they can control their emotional responses to challenges—a vital skill for managing frustration and working with others.

Embrace "Messy" Problems: AI thrives on clear inputs and known answers. Humans excel when the path forward is murky. Schools can lean into this by using "authentic assessment"—having students tackle real-world problems. This could be anything from testing soil on school grounds to design landscaping solutions, creating video campaigns for social causes, or debating how historical outcomes might have changed with different leadership. This teaches students how to test possibilities and frame problems, not just search for textbook answers.

Protect "Slow Learning": One of the biggest dangers of AI is that it makes hard things fast. But as Steele points out, "effort is needed to learn hard things." When students delegate work to AI before mastering a skill themselves, they short-circuit the learning process. To counter this, she suggests a return to "old-school" methods like writing assignments by hand or giving oral presentations. When students do use AI, they should be prompted to reflect on how they used the tool and which fundamental skills (like spelling or formatting a bibliography) they didn't get to practice as a result.

The Skill to Rule Them All

Ultimately, the future of work won't be devoid of challenges; it will be full of complex problems that require human ingenuity and collaboration to solve. Steele suggests that the most critical skill schools can teach is the self-awareness to prioritize deep learning over easy shortcuts.

In an AI-enabled world, knowing when not to delegate a task to a machine—until you truly know how to do it yourself—may be the most important lesson of all.

Disclaimer: This blog post was written with the assistance of an AI. The information and analysis are based on the article, "Kids need soft skills in the age of AI, but what does this mean for schools?" written by Jennifer L. Steele for The Conversation. You can read the original piece here: https://theconversation.com/kids-need-soft-skills-in-the-age-of-ai-but-what-does-this-mean-for-schools-261518

The Soul of the Machine: An EdTech Insider’s Plea for a More Human Future

Technology in education is at its best when it empowers students to create, collaborate, and solve problems together. As discussed in the article, the goal should be to provide tools that foster human ingenuity and make learning an active, engaging experience for everyone.

For decades, we’ve been sold a dazzling promise: technology will revolutionize education, democratize learning, and unlock the potential of every student, regardless of their zip code or background. Yet, for all the talk of AI tutors and virtual classrooms, a nagging question remains: Who is all this technology truly serving?

According to Anne Trumbore, an EdTech insider with a front-row seat to the industry's evolution, the answer is often not the students who need it most. In a compelling interview with Greg Toppo of The 74, Trumbore, author of the new book The Teacher in the Machine, pulls back the curtain on an industry that, she argues, has often prioritized profit over people. Her message is a powerful plea to refocus on creating more equitable tools that provide “more returns to learners than to ed tech investors.”

From an Insider’s Perspective

Trumbore’s perspective is unique. She isn’t an outside critic; she was in the room where it happened. After starting as a teacher at Stanford University’s experimental Online High School, she became an "ensemble player" on the team that launched Coursera, the platform that ushered in the era of Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs). She has seen firsthand how idealistic goals can get lost when shaped by a free-market business model.

“I believe in the promise of ed tech,” Trumbore states. “I don’t think that the promise of ed tech and the free-market business model are compatible.”

This tension is the core of her argument. While MOOCs successfully opened the gates to elite institutions, allowing anyone with an internet connection to see what’s being taught at Stanford or Penn, they primarily benefited those who already possessed the agency and skills to succeed in that environment. They gave “additional agency to those who have it,” she notes, while failing to support the millions of nontraditional learners who need more than just access to content.

Learning from the Past to Build a Better Future

Trumbore warns that without acknowledging the history of the field, we are doomed to repeat its mistakes. She points to three mid-20th-century pioneers whose visions still shape today’s technology:

Patrick Suppes: An early innovator who popularized the idea of computers as “automatic tutors”—a concept now being realized through AI platforms from Khan Academy and others.

Don Bitzer: The creator of PLATO, a revolutionary networked learning system that, back in the 1960s, enabled communication between students and laid the groundwork for modern learning management systems.

Seymour Papert: A visionary from MIT’s AI Lab who, inspired by child psychologist Jean Piaget, argued that a child should program the computer, not the other way around. He believed technology should be a tool to empower creativity and human expression.

Trumbore sees Papert’s philosophy as especially relevant today, as schools rush to adopt generative AI. She fears a future where students are passively consuming AI-driven lessons (“Lesson 4 of OpenAI Academy”) rather than actively using these powerful tools to design, create, and solve problems. Are students using the tool, she asks, or are they being used by it?

The Path to True Equity

So, how do we escape this cycle? How do we build an EdTech ecosystem that truly serves all learners?

Trumbore suggests the first step is to be more critical and clear-eyed. We must recognize that education is inherently difficult and expensive to provide, and a frictionless, scalable product designed for mass appeal can’t replace a genuine learning experience. As she aptly puts it, if simple access to information were the solution, “libraries would have solved everything.”

The challenge isn’t just about providing access; it’s about designing educational experiences that meet learners where they are. It’s about building tools that empower, not just deliver content. It’s about shifting the focus from maximizing user engagement and profit to maximizing human potential.

Trumbore's call to action is a necessary one. As we stand on the cusp of another technological wave driven by AI, her insights serve as a vital reminder to ask the hard questions, learn from our past, and consciously build a future where technology serves humanity—not just the bottom line.

Disclaimer: This blog post was written with the assistance of an AI. The information and quotes are based on the article, "An Ed Tech Insider Pleads for More Equitable Tools," written by Greg Toppo for The 74. You can read the original piece here: https://www.the74million.org/article/an-ed-tech-insider-pleads-for-more-equitable-tools/

Navigating the New Frontier: How Southwest Michigan Schools Are Tackling AI

Teachers at St. Joseph Public Schools are piloting new AI tools to create more collaborative and efficient learning environments for students.

 This article was created with the assistance of an AI, using a news report from WSBT 22 as a primary source.

The bell is ringing for a new school year, and in Southwest Michigan, it's heralding a new era of education—one deeply intertwined with Artificial Intelligence. As students become more adept at using AI tools to generate homework and essays, school districts like Coloma Community Schools and St. Joseph Public Schools are moving beyond simply banning the technology. Instead, they're developing thoughtful strategies to navigate this new digital frontier, aiming to harness AI's power while safeguarding the core principles of learning.

The central challenge is clear: how to use AI as a helpful assistant rather than a substitute for critical thinking. Both districts acknowledge that avoiding AI is not a viable long-term solution. Their approaches, however, highlight two different philosophies for integrating this powerful technology into the classroom.

Coloma's Cautious Stance: "Process, Don't Think"

At Coloma Community Schools, the initial approach is one of caution. Superintendent Dave Ehlers has rolled out a new policy that, for now, disallows AI for homework and classwork. This isn't a permanent ban, but a strategic pause. The goal is to give teachers time to understand and evaluate various AI tools before deciding which can be used safely and effectively.

Ehlers emphasizes the distinction between assistance and reliance. "It's a tool we want our kids to be able to learn, but we don't want them to rely on it for thinking," he stated. "[We] want it to help them process more than think."

This policy was prompted by a noticeable increase in AI-generated essays. In response, the district is adopting new detection software that analyzes writing styles and can identify cut-and-paste content, moving beyond simple plagiarism checks. To further manage technology in the classroom, Coloma High School has also implemented a new rule this year that prohibits students from having cell phones in class.

St. Joseph's Phased Integration: Piloting the Future

St. Joseph Public Schools is taking a more exploratory path. They see AI's potential to be a time-saver and a learning enhancer for both students and staff. Their strategy involves a three-year phased rollout, starting with pilot programs to test specific AI tools in a controlled environment.

Assistant Superintendent Amy Dirlam envisions tools that can help students brainstorm ideas or generate instant feedback on a thesis statement, freeing up teachers to provide more individualized attention. "So perhaps it might be something that's helping with writing and generating feedback and helping students ideate," she explained.

This year, about 10 to 20 secondary-level teachers will participate in pilots across different subjects. The district is investing in outside consulting, professional development, and speakers to support its educators. As teachers report back on their experiences, the district's AI policy will evolve, gradually integrating proven tools and excluding others.

A Shared Goal for the Digital Age

While their methods differ, both Coloma and St. Joseph share a common objective: to prepare students for a world where AI is ubiquitous. They recognize that the conversation isn't about if AI should be in schools, but how. By actively creating policies, providing teacher training, and focusing on the integrity of the learning process, these districts are turning a potential challenge into a powerful opportunity for growth and innovation. As teachers undergo further AI training this October, the blueprint for 21st-century learning in Southwest Michigan will continue to take shape.

Don't Fear the Robot, Become the Robot's Boss

As artificial intelligence continues to reshape industries, students and professionals are heading back to the classroom to become fluent in the language of the future. This is what the new frontier of education looks like.

Is AI coming for your job? It's a question on everyone's mind. But while some worry about being replaced by algorithms, a growing number of people are running toward the change, not away from it. Instead of fearing artificial intelligence, they're getting degrees in it.

This shift in perspective is the focus of a recent article by Danielle Abril in The Washington Post, which highlights a fascinating trend: workers and students are flocking to AI-focused educational programs to secure their place in the future of work.

Why Learn AI? It's the Future.

The motivation is simple. Take Vicky Fowler, a 20-year veteran in data protection, who was stunned when she saw ChatGPT program a working calculator in seconds. Her reaction? She enrolled in a master's program in AI. "This is the future," she realized.

This sentiment is echoed by many. They see AI not as a threat, but as an essential tool and a massive opportunity. The World Economic Forum predicts that AI and big data skills will see the largest increase in importance for employers in the next five years. The financial incentive is there, too. A PricewaterhouseCoopers report found that workers with AI skills earned 56 percent more than those without. The message is clear: understanding AI makes you more valuable.

Universities Are Rushing to Meet Demand

Educational institutions are responding to this demand with unprecedented speed.

The University of Michigan at Dearborn saw its AI master's program grow from just 21 students in 2021 to 172 today, largely driven by needs in the automotive industry.

The University of Texas at Austin launched an online master's in AI in 2024 and was so overwhelmed with applications that it now has 1,500 students enrolled in its second year.

MIT reports that its "AI and decision-making" major is now the second most popular at the school.

These programs aren't just for coders. While many students come from STEM backgrounds, universities like the University of San Diego are also seeing nurses and doctors enroll, eager to apply AI to their fields. The focus isn't just on technical skills but also on creativity, ethical thinking, and problem-solving.

Do You Really Need a Degree?

A formal degree isn't the only path forward. Experts suggest that for many, on-the-job training or free online resources can be just as effective. Companies like OpenAI and Anthropic offer free courses on AI literacy.

The most crucial skill might not be technical at all. Nick Turley, head of ChatGPT at OpenAI, says the number one thing he looks for is curiosity. In an AI-powered world, knowing how to ask the right questions is often more important than knowing how to write the code.

Ultimately, whether through a formal degree or self-study, the takeaway is the same. As AI becomes more integrated into our work and lives, proactive learning is the key to not just surviving, but thriving. As student Vicky Fowler puts it, "If everyone understands it, we can make it better."

(Disclaimer: This blog post was generated with the assistance of AI. It is based on the article "These workers don’t fear artificial intelligence. They’re getting degrees in it." by Danielle Abril, published in The Washington Post on August 11, 2025.)https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2025/08/11/ai-degree-education/

AI’s Class of 2025 – The First “AI-Native” Graduates

From No. 2 pencils to GPT prompts — meet the first AI-native graduating class.

(This post was created with the assistance of AI)

If you’re a high school senior graduating next spring, you’ve basically never known school without AI. ChatGPT dropped during your freshman year, and ever since, “writing” an essay has often meant prompting one. But the way students use AI has evolved fast. Gone are the days of copying a bot’s answer wholesale; now it’s about blending responses from multiple models, adding deliberate typos, and even feeding in entire documents for feedback. And not all AI use is shady; many teens lean on it for study guides, practice tests, and extra tutoring. Still, if you think your kid isn’t using it? Odds are, they are.

It’s not just students. Teachers, swamped with grading, lesson planning, and admin work, are adopting AI tools too. Platforms like MagicSchool AI help them generate rubrics, worksheets, and even quirky extras (though not all the jokes land). Some educators, like Sacramento’s Sally Hubbard, save up to 10 hours a week this way, time they can spend actually connecting with students. Entire districts are testing big-name AI like Google’s Gemini for history role-play, instant feedback, and tutoring. Even elementary schools are getting AI-powered reading tutors.

But the rollout isn’t without bumps. Some schools, especially in rural and low-income areas, still ban AI. Others, like Houston ISD, faced backlash after AI-generated curriculum materials contained bizarre errors, from mutant horses to nonsense discussion questions. Despite that, momentum is building. Federal and corporate partnerships, like Microsoft’s $4 billion commitment, are pushing for AI in every classroom, with programs to train teachers nationwide.

The tension is clear: AI can supercharge learning, but it also risks replacing core skills if used as a crutch. Some schools are fighting back with old-school tactics, returning to in-class essays, oral exams, and even cursive, to force independent thinking. Experts say the sweet spot is somewhere in between ignoring AI and going all-in.

One thing’s certain: today’s students are tomorrow’s AI power users. How schools navigate this shift will shape not just the future of education, but the future of AI itself. Once classrooms go fully AI-integrated, there’s no easy way to roll it back.

https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2025/08/ai-takeover-education-chatgpt/683840/

Economist's Warning: Why Colleges Are Failing to Prepare Students for the AI Revolution

 

Economist Tyler Cowen argues that up to one-third of a college curriculum should be dedicated to understanding and interacting with AI to prepare students for the future job market.

An influential economist is sounding the alarm: higher education is not moving fast enough, and it could be leaving a generation of students unprepared for the future of work. According to Tyler Cowen, a professor at George Mason University, colleges are at risk of "producing a generation of students who will go out on the labor market and be quite unprepared."

The Problem: Teaching Skills AIs Already Master

The core issue? Colleges spend too much time teaching students things that artificial intelligence already does exceptionally well. Think about the routine questions and basic knowledge that make up a large part of many courses.

"We teach things that are easy to test for," Cowen explained. "That is exactly what the AIs tend to excel at."

He argues there's little point in training students for skills "where the machine outcompetes the human." While some foundational knowledge is necessary to interact with AI effectively, the current focus is misguided and fails to prepare students for the jobs that will actually need human workers.

A Radical Proposal: The One-Third Rule

So, what's the solution? Cowen proposes a "huge change" to the standard curriculum.

"I think we should devote up to one-third of the curriculum to teaching students how to use, interact with, and spot the limitations of AIs," he said.

This would mean a fundamental shift away from rote memorization and toward practical AI literacy. Students would learn how to leverage AI as a tool, oversee its work, and, crucially, understand where it's likely to make mistakes. This change would equip them for a job market where roles in customer service, IT, and data processing are already being dramatically reshaped by automation.

The "Psychological Cost" of Being Unprepared

The consequences of this educational gap aren't just financial. Cowen warns of a profound "psychological cost" for graduates who feel obsolete before their careers even begin.

He fears that without the right training, many people will feel like "they do not fit into this world, and they'll be somewhat correct." This sense of displacement could lead to what he and co-author Avital Balwit called "perhaps the most profound identity crisis humanity has ever faced," forcing us to figure out how to live meaningful lives when we are no longer the "smartest and most capable entities."

For colleges, the message is clear: it's time to adapt or risk failing their students.

(This blog post was created with the assistance of AI. The original story was reported by Thibault Spirlet for Business Insider and can be found here: https://www.businessinsider.com/economist-tyler-cowen-college-students-trained-jobs-ai-work-2025-8)

Saving Time, Strengthening Bonds: The Real Impact of AI in Schools

By handling some of the more time-consuming tasks, AI can free up teachers to do what they do best: connect with and inspire their students.

 A recent article by Donielle Lee for the Walton Family Foundation, titled "On Teachers' Terms: AI in the Classroom," delves into the practical ways educators are leveraging artificial intelligence to enhance their work and support student learning. Drawing on a study by the Walton Family Foundation and Gallup, the article reveals that a significant number of teachers—60%—are already using AI tools like ChatGPT, with many reporting substantial time savings.

The piece highlights the experiences of educators like Al Rabanera, a math teacher who uses AI to build student confidence and develop engaging lessons, and Emily Kaye, an assistant principal who sees AI as a valuable tool for helping new teachers navigate the steep learning curve of the profession.

A key takeaway from the article is the potential for AI to not only improve teacher workloads but also to strengthen the crucial relationships between teachers and students. By automating certain tasks, AI can free up educators to focus on the more human-centered aspects of their work. The article also points to a pilot program at KIPP Bayview where an AI-powered tool that adapted lesson difficulty led to students achieving double the proficiency gains of their peers.

Ultimately, the article suggests that when implemented thoughtfully and with proper support, AI can be a powerful ally for teachers, helping them to be more effective and to create more personalized and impactful learning experiences for their students.

This blog post was generated with the assistance of AI.

Read the original article by Donielle Lee here:

https://www.waltonfamilyfoundation.org/stories/education/on-teachers-terms-ai-in-the-classroom

Beyond the Hype: Are AI Tools Really Helping Teachers?

For AI to be a truly effective tool in education, it must be developed in collaboration with teachers to meet the real-world needs of the classroom.

A recent article from The 74 Million, authored by Chelsea Waite, Lisa Chu, and Steven Weiner, explores how California teachers are experimenting with artificial intelligence in the classroom. The article, based on research from the Center on Reinventing Public Education (CRPE), highlights that while AI holds promise, its effectiveness is deeply tied to a clear instructional vision and the preservation of strong teacher-student relationships.

The authors found that many educators are still seeking AI tools that genuinely meet their needs. Some teachers, like third-grade teacher Katie Sanchez, have found value in using AI for behind-the-scenes tasks like lesson planning, which frees up more time for direct interaction with students. This approach prioritizes the human element of teaching, a sentiment echoed by many educators in the study.

However, the article also points to a disconnect between the available AI products and the realities of the classroom. For example, a custom-built AI tool designed to create student groups at one school was deemed a failure, underscoring the need for developers to work more closely with educators to create tools that are truly helpful.

The researchers emphasize the importance of providing teachers with a foundational understanding of how AI works, including its potential risks and benefits. They argue that for AI to be successfully integrated into schools, there must be a clear vision for how it aligns with instructional goals and a commitment to ensuring that technology serves, rather than supplants, the essential work of teachers.

This blog post was generated with the assistance of AI.

Read the original article by Chelsea Waite, Lisa Chu, and Steven Weiner here:

https://www.the74million.org/article/what-california-teachers-are-trying-building-and-learning-with-ai/

Tool, Not Teacher: Resisting the Push to Outsource Education to AI

 

While technology can be a powerful tool in the classroom, the core of education remains the human connection between teacher and student.

A recent Chalkbeat article by Timothy Cook, a third-grade teacher, raises important questions about the role of artificial intelligence in education. Cook argues that while AI can be a useful tool for administrative tasks, we must be cautious about outsourcing the core, human-centered work of teaching.

The author expresses concern that the current push to train educators on AI focuses too much on the "product of teaching over the process of learning." He believes that true education is about fostering curiosity, inquiry, and a love of learning in students, not just producing polished final products. When the process of learning is valued, students are more likely to be intrinsically motivated and less likely to seek shortcuts, whether through AI or other means.

Cook shares a powerful story about a student who, through his own messy and self-directed experimentation with a catapult project, discovered fundamental principles of physics. This, Cook argues, is the kind of deep, authentic learning that we should be striving for in our classrooms.

Ultimately, the author contends that teacher training should focus on developing educators who can facilitate human connection, model intellectual courage, and guide students through the messy but rewarding process of discovery.

This blog post was generated with the assistance of AI.

Read the original article by Timothy Cook here:

https://www.chalkbeat.org/2025/08/11/in-training-educators-to-use-ai-we-must-not-outsource-the-foundational-work-of-teaching/

Your Starting Point for AI in the Classroom: 6 Essential Guides

The conversation around Artificial Intelligence in education is moving faster than ever. It's no longer a question of if AI will impact teaching, but how we can best harness it to support our students and ourselves. But where do you even begin? The sheer volume of information can be overwhelming.

That's why a recent article from the excellent blog Educational Technology and Mobile Learning is such a valuable resource. It cuts through the noise and provides a clear, curated list of foundational guides from trusted, authoritative sources. This isn't about trendy apps; it's about building a solid understanding of AI's role in education.

This post, which was crafted with the assistance of AI to summarize and expand upon the original work, highlights the key resources you need to get started.

The 6 Foundational Guides

The original article points to six essential documents that every educator should have on their radar:

"Artificial Intelligence and the Future of Teaching and Learning" (U.S. Department of Education): Think of this as the big-picture overview, covering both the amazing opportunities and the potential risks of AI in education.

"AI Competency Framework for Teachers" (UNESCO): This guide provides a practical roadmap for educators, outlining the specific skills and competencies needed to thrive in an AI-driven educational landscape.

"Empowering Learners for the Age of AI" (AI for Education initiative): Shifting the focus to students, this resource is all about how we can build AI literacy in our learners.

"Ethical Guidelines on the Use of Artificial Intelligence and Data" (European Commission): This is your go-to for navigating the tricky ethical questions that come with using AI tools and student data.

"Generative Artificial Intelligence in K–12 Education" (Arizona Department of Education): For a practical, classroom-level perspective, this guide offers policies and frameworks for using tools like ChatGPT with your students.

"Teachers and AI: A View from the Classroom" (Walton Family Foundation and Gallup): This report shares real-world insights and perspectives from teachers who are already using AI, giving a valuable look at what's actually happening on the ground.

Credit Where Credit Is Due

This summary was made possible by the excellent curation and work of Dr. Med Kharbach. His original post provides more context and direct access to each of these crucial resources. We highly recommend you read it in full.

You can find the original article here: 6 Foundational AI Guides for Teachers on Educational Technology and Mobile Learning

The End of "Just Give Me the Answer": OpenAI Launches ChatGPT "Study Mode" to Revolutionize Learning

The way students use AI for homework is about to change. OpenAI has officially launched "Study Mode" for ChatGPT, a new feature designed to transform the popular chatbot from a simple answer machine into a dynamic, personalized tutor. This move directly addresses the growing concern that students are using AI to complete assignments without actually learning the material.

For any student who has ever been tempted to copy and paste a homework answer from a chatbot, Study Mode presents a new paradigm. Instead of providing direct solutions, it engages students in a conversation, guiding them toward the answer with hints, Socratic questioning, and personalized feedback. It's less about getting the right answer and more about understanding why it's the right answer.

Key Features of Study Mode:

Interactive, Not Instant: Gone are the days of instant gratification. Study Mode uses prompts that encourage self-reflection and critical thinking. It might ask, "What have you tried so far?" or "What part of the problem is confusing you?"

Scaffolded Learning: For complex topics, the new mode breaks down information into manageable, easy-to-follow sections. This "scaffolding" helps students see the connections between different concepts and prevents them from feeling overwhelmed.

Personalized Pace: Study Mode adapts to each user's skill level. It asks questions to gauge understanding and remembers information from previous chats to create a truly tailored learning experience.

Knowledge Checks: To reinforce learning, the mode includes quizzes and open-ended questions. It provides personalized feedback on a student's answers, helping them track their progress and identify areas where they need more work.

Flexibility is Key: Recognizing that not every task requires a deep dive, OpenAI has made it easy to toggle Study Mode on and off within a conversation. This allows students to switch between guided learning and getting a quick answer as needed.

A Tutor That Never Tires

Early feedback from students has been overwhelmingly positive. Many have described the experience as having a "live, 24/7, all-knowing 'office hours'" or a "tutor who doesn't get tired of my questions." This highlights the potential of Study Mode to provide accessible, on-demand support that can supplement traditional classroom learning.

By focusing on genuine comprehension rather than just providing answers, OpenAI is taking a significant step toward ensuring that AI becomes a powerful and responsible tool in education. Study Mode is not just a new feature; it's a statement about the future of learning in the age of AI—one where technology is used not just to find answers, but to truly understand them.

https://openai.com/index/chatgpt-study-mode/

The AI Tutor is In: How ChatGPT is Shaking Up College Campuses and Challenging Giants like Chegg

The lecture hall is changing. While professors are at the front of the room, a new, powerful tutor is in the pocket of nearly every student: Artificial Intelligence. A recent in-depth report from NPR sheds light on a seismic shift in the educational landscape, where AI tools like ChatGPT are not just a novelty but are rapidly becoming the go-to study partner for a generation of students. This isn't just about getting homework answers; it's a fundamental change in how students learn, and it's sending shockwaves through the multi-billion-dollar ed-tech industry.

A New Study Buddy

Forget dusty textbooks and late-night library sessions. Today's students are firing up chatbots. According to recent research, a staggering 66% of students across bachelor's, master's, and doctoral programs are regularly using ChatGPT. Recognizing this trend, AI developers are leaning in, creating features like a "study mode" that aims to be more of a Socratic guide than a simple answer key, asking students probing questions to help them understand concepts on a deeper level.

The "Chegg Effect"

This AI revolution has not been without casualties. For years, companies like Chegg were the undisputed champions of online homework help. Now, they're facing an existential threat. The rise of powerful, free AI has led to a dramatic downturn for the company, forcing them to lay off 22% of their workforce. In a fight for survival, Chegg is now trying to reinvent itself. It's moving towards a premium, goal-oriented model and even integrating competitor AI models—including ChatGPT—directly into its platform. It's a classic case of "if you can't beat 'em, join 'em."

The Classroom Adapts

So, how are educators and students actually navigating this new world?

For students, it's often a hybrid approach. Many are "mixing and matching," using ChatGPT to get a quick overview, then turning to other resources like Quizlet or even their textbooks to verify information. As one student noted, ChatGPT is only correct about half the time, making critical thinking and cross-referencing more important than ever.

For professors, the challenge is twofold. Many are embracing AI as a powerful editing tool and encouraging students to use it responsibly. At the same time, to combat plagiarism and over-reliance, they're shifting back to more traditional methods like in-class presentations and handwritten assignments.

The Blurry Line Between Helping and Cheating

This new era of AI in education brings up a crucial question: where is the line between a helpful tool and academic dishonesty? The ease of getting a complete essay or a complex problem solved in seconds is a tempting shortcut. As the NPR article points out, the line is becoming "blurry." What was once clearly cheating now feels to some like simply being more "efficient."

This is the central challenge for the future of education. As AI becomes even more integrated into our daily lives, students and educators will have to work together to define ethical boundaries and ensure that technology is used to enhance learning, not to cheapen it. The AI tutor is here to stay, and the classroom will never be the same.

https://www.npr.org/2025/08/06/g-s1-81012/chatgpt-ai-college-students-chegg-study