Guiding, Not Replacing: The Role of AI in Student Learning

As artificial intelligence continues to become more relevant within school systems, one of the most critical questions is: Will AI be used as a tool, or will it slowly replace the creativity and critical thinking that students need to be accessing on a day to day basis during such developmental years? While there is no denying that AI can enhance many skills that students have to offer, many educators agree that AI is beginning to replace the skills that students need to be accessing, rather than refining what students have to offer. 

“I want a generation of creators,” said Ms. Lord, a high school English teacher. “AI should help, not replace, the soft skills that come from human creativity.”

Numerous teachers view AI as a beneficial tool that needs proper guidance from students to help shape their ideas. The application of AI has become a supporting tool for generating ideas during brainstorming sessions yet remains separate from critical thinking processes.

“AI can help with the beginning parts of a paper,” said Ms. Lowery, the librarian at Watauga High School. “But the student still has to sit down and do the hard work of thinking through their ideas.”

The balance between support and misuse is what teachers are trying to navigate. Some maintain concerns because students excessively depend on AI instant solutions rather than using authentic effort. That’s why teachers are emphasizing the need for balance. They want students to see AI as a tool to help them start the process, not finish it.

“I think it might help with the initial parts of our research papers,” said Ms. Lowe. “Like narrowing down a topic or maybe finding the precise word. But I think in general, you know, if you sit and wait a minute, it will come to you.”

For Ms. Lowe, AI may save time, but she believes it should not substitute the fundamental challenges that promote student growth. She worries that students are turning to AI before they've even attempted to find the answers on their own.. This concern is shared among a range of educators who feel students are skipping the most important part of learning. 

“Replacing critical thinking and just the whole process of writing—that’s the part we’re losing,” said Lowe.

The concern isn't about what the students are producing but how they are engaging overall. With an excessive amount of information that's easily accessible, teachers believe students are becoming less focused. It's more difficult to hold their attention, access critical thinking, and dig deep into complex ideas. 

“I actually think student engagement across the board is definitely down,” said Lowery. “We’re drinking from a water fountain, but it’s a firehose. There’s lots of information coming at us, lots of distractions, lots of noise.”

Lowery believes this overload of information is making it harder for students to focus, and even harder for them to care about the learning process. But at the same time, she sees potential in AI if used properly. AI allows students to investigate and study topics that matter to them. In this way, AI could be something that gets students thinking in new directions, spark better ideas, and inspires them. But teachers agree it’s their job to guide students in that process to make sure AI doesn't replace the parts of learning that truly matter. 

“Again, I think it’s up to us teachers to sort of guide students through that process,” said Ms. King. “AI can be a great tool for brainstorming and organizing ideas, but it’s not a replacement for the hard work students need to put into their learning.” 

That guidance includes making sure students are producing authentic work that shows their unique perspective.

“I think it’s important for teachers to know their students. Know their voices,” said Ms. Lowery. “You might have one child who’s been reading for their entire life, and they have a very rich vocabulary, and they almost sound like AI when they’re writing. And it would be disheartening to say, ‘Water that down because you sound like AI.’”

When teachers know how their students write, it's easier for them to tell the difference between something written by AI and something that shows the students' originality and growth. It also requires awareness from both teachers and students. Educational progress as a thinker and learner requires students to recognize when they need to take a break from technology and let their own ideas take the lead.

“I mean, oxygen can be used for bad,” states Lowery. “Too much of it is not good for you. So everything has to be in moderation.”

For now, as AI continues to develop, teachers are trying to find that balance where students can use AI as a tool rather than a replacement. AI can enhance student work, but students should not depend on a computer to do their work for them. The goal is to keep students thinking, creating, and learning deeply because that’s something no machine can truly do for them.

“Because that’s what gets ideas started and discoveries made,” said Lowery. “It’s just digging and throwing things against the wall to see if it sticks. Getting passionate about topics. And I think AI is going to do a lot of that—but the passion still has to come from the student.”