Reporter's Notebook: Lawmakers wrestle over whether AI can make the grade in America's classrooms
Reading. Writing. And AI algorithms.The Senate is now wrestling with how students — and teachers — might use Artificial Intelligence in the classroom.It’s inevitable."The question is not whether AI is...
By Fox News · Fox News
Reading. Writing. And AI algorithms . The Senate is now wrestling with how students — and teachers — might use Artificial Intelligence in the classroom. It’s inevitable. "The question is not whether AI is going to impact education. The real question is whether we will shape its use thoughtfully. Responsibly," said Delaware Secretary of Education Cindy Marten during a recent Senate hearing. Lawmakers are focusing not just on what AI teaches students. But how. "What do we know when it comes to long term cognitive impact of the use of this technology?" asked Sen. Tommy Tuberville, R-Ala., at the hearing. SCHOOLS TURN TO HANDWRITTEN EXAMS AS AI CHEATING SURGES "We have no causal studies on long term impact on social or cognitive development," replied Erin Mote, who, as CEO of InnovateEDU and the EDSAFE AI Alliance, works on technological innovation in the classroom. Pushing students onto screens, iPads and Chromebooks in the classroom was all the rage about 12 years ago. But since that rush to technology, the percentage of high school seniors performing at grade level in math and reading is down four points from 2009, according to the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NEAP) , sometimes known as the report card of the nation. "The students did not learn the content better and their social and emotional health has suffered greatly. We need to ensure as we move forward teaching about and with AI that we do not become overly tech reliant and that critical thinking skills remain imperative" said David Slykhuis of Valdosta State University at a House hearing earlier this year. That’s why lawmakers are skeptical that AI can boost classroom performance. "Kids have outsourced critical thinking. Have outsourced friendship. Have even outsourced moral advice to AI," said Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn. 95% OF FACULTY SAY AI MAKING STUDENTS DANGEROUSLY DEPENDENT ON TECHNOLOGY FOR LEARNING: SURVEY There are also privacy concerns. AI can glean what each student learns and knows…