When does the use of AI become excessive?

Key points:

AI can play a role in developing soft skills, but these skills are uniquely human.

AI has a transformative role in accessibility.

When it comes to using AI, educators are more comfortable than students.

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With the rapid growth of artificial intelligence, many parents are now questioning whether they should allow their children to use AI as a learning aid.

As a father of an elementary school student, I am one of these parents. I want my child to succeed in learning, so how can I provide effective academic support? Should I turn to AI for tutoring when my child struggles? Drawing from my experience in the edtech industry, I believe the key question should be: How can I foster a genuine love for learning?

We know that students today still face academic challenges, and studies show that tutoring can have a significant positive impact on student learning outcomes. There are three essential instructional skills that support effective learning: the ability to personalize teaching, foster critical thinking, and inspire a passion for learning.

AI can help provide these skills to some extent, but there are limitations to how useful artificial intelligence can be in each of these areas. Here is what we know about AI’s helpfulness and limitations:

Personalized tutoring engages students with instruction tailored to their individual needs, learning style, and pace.

Helpful: AI can adjust content delivery to match your child’s learning style and preferences, offering various resources like videos, interactive exercises, and reading materials.

Not helpful: AI cannot fully tailor its teaching methods as effectively as a human tutor who can adapt teaching based on the child’s interests and strengths.

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Fostering critical thinking and problem-solving depends on intentional tutoring strategies and practices.

Helpful: AI can present challenging problems and scenarios for your child to solve, encouraging critical thinking and providing immediate feedback.

Not helpful: AI struggles to foster deeper critical thinking and problem-solving skills that require nuanced understanding and interactive discussions.

Effective tutoring motivates, models, and inspires a genuine love for learning.

Helpful: ChatGPT and similar platforms are advancing to provide more interactive abilities, impressing with rapid responses and extensive research.

Not helpful: Algorithms lack personal experiences that can inspire a true love for learning. Human tutors can share personal stories and interests, creating a more engaging learning experience.

Unlike AI, human tutors can identify what excites and motivates your child, boosting their confidence and motivation. Individualized attention from tutors can significantly improve a student’s self-esteem and attitude towards learning.

Effective tutors also instill a sense of accountability in students, encouraging them to engage and persevere in finding answers on their own. They can draw on their experiences and passions to inspire a love of learning.

For AI to be a support for learning rather than just a tool for answers, parents need to understand their child’s skills and behaviors. These three questions can help clarify the situation:

Can your child create prompts that foster learning?

Are they willing to use these prompts or will they solely rely on AI for answers?

If the answer to either question is negative, will you or another adult be able to assist and supervise?

To navigate a fast-changing world, children need high-level 21st-century skills such as problem-solving, creative thinking, and collaboration. While AI can assist in developing these soft skills, they are fundamentally human capabilities. Deep learning is best nurtured through meaningful interactions between children and their tutors, teachers, and parents.

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