Art by Sean Mayer

A drawing of a computer with claws, symbolizing the controversy of artificial intelligence

Emma Marcotte ‘27

REPORTER

As technology continues to develop, artificial intelligence (AI) has become an increasingly prominent tool in various aspects of society. From virtual assistants such as Siri and Alexa to self-driving cars, AI has become incorporated into daily routines. AI is becoming a pivotal tool in various educational settings, including the English Department at the high school. The integration of AI in classrooms reworks the education system through the implementation of non-traditional learning methods. Institutions seek ways to balance its usage while weighing its benefits and consequences.

AI can be beneficial for high school students who struggle to balance a fun, fulfilling life while maintaining their rigorous schedules AI can boost engagement, providing personalized learning tools that promote effective teaching practices designed to help students understand and memorize, such as interactive chat boxes, memory games, and storytelling. These applications keep students actively engaged while studying and allow them to have fun. Mrs. Janet Holguín, an English teacher, said, “of course [AI is] helpful...these generative platforms can provide means of understanding. It can bring efficiency using knowledge.” Moreover, AI allows students to narrow their focus, by curating custom lessons based on their strengths and weaknesses. Many find that this personalized approach to education makes learning more effective and efficient.

AI not only assists students but also aids teachers in the workplace. AI automates tasks such as grading papers, managing attendance, and building lessons, giving teachers extra time to focus on instruction. In the English Department, a new tool was piloted by Mrs. Holguín: Class Companion. This tool is an AI tutor and feedback provider that identifies where students struggle most and how they engage with assignments. The tool makes planning instruction easier for teachers, so they can focus their lessons on the areas where students are struggling the most.

However, the accessibility of AI raises many concerns. “I do worry about academic honesty and what the definition of ‘intellectual property’ will come to be in the future,” said Mrs. Amy Ahart, English Department Chair and English teacher. The high school currently regards the use of AI for any part of an assignment without approval from teachers as a violation against intellectual property, as stated in Board Policy 218-AG-1. The English Department strictly follows these rules and requires students to use their own creativity without the assistance of AI to produce unoriginal work.

In schools, AI adoption and dependency continues to increase for both students and teachers. Many use the technology to assist in learning and performing various tasks. However, it also generates apprehension about the decline of original thought and critical thinking. “I think AI, for a substitute of our creative prowess, is a dangerous thing.... because that's how we grow as human beings, that's how we advance our society,” said Holguín, who piloted the Class Companion tool. “We can’t give our ability to think away to something else.