Teacher Tea
Engaging the Digital Generation: AI’s Influence on Student Learning
How does the use of AI affect student engagement?
Professor John Spencer presents a framework on his blog for integrating AI into educational settings. He outlines four approaches along a continuum.
The first is the AI-Resistant Approach, in which educators actively resist the integration of AI, often due to skepticism or concerns about overreliance on technology.
The next approach, slightly less resistant, is the Low-Tech Approach. This method emphasizes minimal AI integration and focuses on more traditional teaching practices.
Then, there is the Integrated Approach. At this stage of the continuum, AI tools are thoughtfully incorporated in order to enhance learning experiences, so that they complement existing pedagogical methods.
And finally, at the other end of the spectrum is the AI-Driven Approach. With this approach, education relies heavily on AI, with technology playing a central role in both instruction and learning processes.
Spencer does not insist on one particular approach for all teachers. He suggests that teachers assess their unique contexts in order to determine the most suitable level of AI integration for their classroom. Teachers should aim for a balanced approach that aligns with their educational goals.
Resisting AI in education may very well be a prudent stance, if we prioritize time-tested teaching methods that get results. The role of human educators is, of course, irreplaceable. Overreliance on technology risks diminishing creative and interpersonal skills. While AI may offer certain conveniences, it cannot replace the wisdom and mentorship that experienced teachers provide. Most concerning is the possibility that a dependence on AI will erode an essential sense of personal responsibility, with students becoming passive recipients of information, rather than active learners. Preserving the integrity of education means ensuring that human interaction remain at the core of learning, regardless of the particular degree of AI integration.
You can read more of Spencer’s description of the AI integration continuum, and its various pros and cons, in “A Continuum for Using AI in Schools,” linked below.
AI integration can certainly personalize learning by adapting to individual student needs. For teachers, it can also automate time-consuming tasks like grading, which would allow teachers to focus on more individualized instruction. And it is true that understanding AI prepares students for a future in which these technologies will be increasingly prevalent, equipping them with essential digital literacy skills. But we do not know what the long-term consequences will be for our students, should they rely on AI to assist them in their learning. What will it mean for their ability to reason and think independently? What will it mean for their writing skills? These concerns are at the heart of every debate in education concerning AI in schools.