Do Your Own Work

In the age of AI, students are still expected to do their own work. Obviously this is a complex topic. However, I (Ms. Gluskin) stand by my opinion that 'do your own work' is the heart of the matter. 

Students have many powerful tools at their disposal: cell phones, AI, grammar checks, friends and relatives who do work for them, etc. 

The MOST powerful tool is the human brain. That is really what we are all doing at school: developing our brains so that we can succeed and thrive in the real world.

Many teachers, including myself, have returned to paper and pencil/pen tasks and assessments. That is not a bad thing. It means we are trying to get students to stretch the brain muscle. Reading, writing, math, critical thinking, awareness of the world: these are the things we want students to work on as their educational foundation. Many students come into high school weak in these areas. Jumping to what is convenient (AI, plagiarism, cheating) does nothing to advance a student's skills. The future world is going to be VERY competitive. Students must be ready, not simply by knowing how modern technology works. 

Some teachers will teach students how to use AI productively and honestly. That will not be me, Ms. Gluskin, for various reasons. I absolutely want students to be ready for the future. I just want them to do what is not necessarily easy. As a classroom teacher, I work very hard to make sure that my teaching is not about recalling information or facts. It's truly about thinking deeply.

More to come on this topic as the school year progresses.