NEWSFEED.ID, Jakarta — Artificial Intelligence (AI) has transformed classroom learning at an extraordinary speed. The technology serves two distinct roles as an educational resource and a source of debate within school environments. Students use AI platforms to generate written content and solve problems which leads to doubts about academic honesty and skill retention for the future. UNESCO and OECD organizations worldwide work together to promote educational equality through responsible AI system implementation. The article explores the various advantages and disadvantages of AI in education while presenting essential guidelines which determine whether AI functions as a learning tool or an educational substitute.
AI as a Learning Tool: Support, Assistant, and Skill Development
Research indicates that AI systems generate better student learning results when they function as educational tools instead of performing tasks in place of students. The OECD 2023 digital education report shows students who get AI feedback and clarification and exploratory learning help develop better metacognitive skills and show more motivation for difficult work. UNESCO (2023) supports the idea that AI functions as academic help because it supports students who need assistance with writing through its help with planning and structuring and editing tasks.
The theoretical framework of Vygotsky’s Zone of Proximal Development demonstrates how learners reach higher levels through supervised learning activities than they would reach on their own. AI tools function as digital mediators when used properly to help students perform tasks which exceed their current skill level. The research shows that students gain educational benefits through active engagement with AI output because they need to edit and question and interact with it instead of copying it directly. The research shows that AI functions as a learning tool which requires proper planning and understanding to get the best results.
Dangers of Dependence and Issues with Academic Integrity
Despite its advantages, AI introduces practical and ethical risks that educators cannot ignore. Students reveal through the 2024 EDUCAUSE Student Survey that they use AI to replace schoolwork which they find uninteresting or difficult. Educational systems create a harmful teaching method because they place students in positions which stop them from developing their own writing and reasoning and problem-solving abilities.
Academic integrity has emerged as a new significant problem which affects the academic environment. Teachers face challenges when trying to identify authentic student work from AI-generated content which affects their ability to maintain fair grading practices. Students will produce mistakes in their assignments because they lack direct guidelines which explain plagiarism prevention when using AI-generated content. Students who do not produce their own work through cognitive processes will not develop lasting comprehension of the course material. The identified risks demonstrate that AI systems need immediate protection through established ethical rules and operational limits.
The Importance of Clear Educational Frameworks and AI Literacy.
The educational sector has adopted mandatory AI systems which research shows students require AI literacy to learn about these systems for evaluation and ethical use. The 2023 Stanford HAI study shows that teaching students AI literacy proves more successful than implementing AI bans and punishment systems. Students who learn to evaluate AI output for errors and use AI as a cognitive tool rather than a replacement system develop better critical thinking abilities and digital citizenship skills.
Educators need to establish precise rules about AI usage timing and methods for educational purposes. Students express their preference for specific rules instead of general guidelines which shows they want to use AI properly but need clear rules to follow. The most effective frameworks teach students to write prompts while they must show how AI helped them through reflective notes and perform verification tasks which test their comprehension instead of their ability to produce content. AI functions as a shortcut tool which turns into an intellectual support system when used correctly.
AI functions as a dual entity which brings new educational chances while creating difficulties for current educational systems. The technology delivers personalized feedback which helps students learn better and provides additional educational support to those who need it. The system allows students to develop their skills and get better at their work but it creates a risk for students to become dependent on the system which could lead to cheating when no oversight is present. Students need to learn AI through proper programs and teaching methods which will teach them to use AI responsibly and ethically. Educators must combine innovation with responsibility to achieve this goal which will make AI enhance educational objectives rather than decrease their value.
References
- EDUCAUSE. (2024). 2024 Student technology report: AI, engagement, and digital learning. EDUCAUSE. https://www.educause.edu
- OECD. (2023). The OECD digital education outlook 2023. OECD Publishing. https://www.oecd.org
- Stanford Human-Centered Artificial Intelligence (HAI). (2023). Artificial intelligence and education: A learning futures report. Stanford University. https://hai.stanford.edu
- UNESCO. (2023). Guidance for generative AI in education and research. UNESCO. https://www.unesco.org
Author: Dea Suci M
