Why Defining Values Is Critical To Shaping How Kids Use AI

Hamid Farooqui is a serial entrepreneur, cofounder and CEO of experience management company Sogolytics and CTO of K12 Insight.

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My kids are the best. Like every father, I’m proud of them. They’re smart, creative and curious. As part of a tech-forward family, they’re continually exposed to the latest tools and ideas shaping our world.

So why was I surprised when my youngest thought he’d have AI do his homework?

After all, he informed me that we invented artificial intelligence so humans could spend their time on more exciting things.

He’s not wrong, but why do I feel like he’s not right?

Perceptions Of AI In Education

Results from our recent study echoed my son’s perceptions: 48% of participants identified “Save human time” as AI’s most positive effect on the future. Close behind was “Empower learning”—tied for second place with “Reduce human error” at 44%.

But are parents open to AI in education? Seventy-nine percent said yes, compared to only 61% of non-parents. In fact, 66% of parents believe that schools should allow students to use AI to complete their assignments—compared to just 50% of non-parents. Perhaps this confidence comes from increased exposure to AI personally: 72% of parents said they knowingly use AI regularly, compared to 53% of non-parents.

The Evolution Of Tools In Education

Tools have always been a part of learning. When you run out of fingers to count on, you need a backup—anything from an abacus to a calculator to a computer. For many, books still feel like the most solid source of vetted knowledge. Still, we have nearly continuous access to an astonishing amount of the latest information between smartphones and the internet.

What’s different about ChatGPT?

I can already hear the protests, and yes, there are differences between using a tool and having the tool do everything for you. But tools like ChatGPT are precisely that—tools—and they can be leveraged to help with learning.

As with any tool, the most important lesson to learn is how to use it.

Learning How To Learn With AI

As a tech leader, I’ve always had an avid interest in AI and smart technology. I’m fascinated by the potential to automate processes and build more space for human innovation.

As a parent, though, I want my son to learn everything he can in school without relying on AI to do his homework. Instead of learning how to use AI to replace his own effort, I want him to learn how to leverage AI.

Setting clear expectations is essential when introducing learners of any age to AI tools. Ask yourself these questions when considering using an AI tool in a learning situation.

• What objectives should the learner be able to achieve?

• What capacity does the AI tool serve?

• What policies or guidelines are in place to dictate how the tool may be used?

Remember when English classrooms were suddenly flooded with term papers printed off straight from the internet, some with telltale URLs in the footer? It’s taken years of media literacy classes and lessons about plagiarism to set clear expectations about how online sources should be used.

Tools like ChatGPT aren’t going away, and they require their own clear policies, too. How should they be used? What shouldn’t they be used for? And, importantly, how can learners best leverage their capabilities?

The Future Of AI In Education

How will AI tools impact education? Our study showed that 76% of parents (and 62% of non-parents) believe that AI will have a positive impact on education. Some think AI will help to close the achievement gap (69% of parents, 59% of non-parents), and many feel that AI will make learning more accessible for all students (74% of parents, 63% of non-parents).

On the flip side, a significant number of people see potential negatives to the use of AI in education. Seventy-eight percent of parents and 72% of non-parents believe students’ creativity will suffer. Seventy-nine percent of parents and 75% of non-parents believe students’ critical thinking will suffer. Regarding work ethic, an even higher percentage of parents (80%) think AI will make students lazy—and 73% of non-parents agree.

Can both sides be right? Many—myself included—hold conflicting views simultaneously.

Get Critical About Your Own Practices

If we want students to be creative, critical thinkers, we must be clear about what we value. It’s not my goal that my son spends time completing homework—it’s that he learns something. Beyond that, I want him to become an even stronger learner so that he’s equipped for a lifetime of growth. I want him to see tools as a step up, not a crutch to rely on. When he encounters challenges, I want him to feel confident in stepping up rather than turning away from something that seems too much work.

On a personal level, this means getting critical about my practices, the tools I use, and my expectations. I must highlight my values and celebrate when I see them in practice.

As the CEO of a tech company, it’s probably not unusual that my top values include innovation, critical thinking and creativity. Still, my personal values come into play, too: family, health and resilience.

The nexus of tech and “real life” fascinates me, and I’m excited to see what my son brings home next. I’m looking forward to the challenges and opportunities that AI presents in our homes, schools and workplaces, and I know that this conversation will continue to evolve as we do.

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