Student Learning: Ever wondered why our education system always encourages us to solve problems, question everything, and participate enthusiastically in extracurricular activities? The answer is simple: our mentors want us to develop leadership qualities, gain decision-making skills, and tackle life’s challenges with wisdom. The curriculum followed in our educational institutes includes learning that requires effort. The research assignments we often consider a troublesome task assigned by our teachers actually contribute a lot to opening the windows of our minds and polishing our thinking ability.
In recent years, AI tools like ChatGPT have been widely used by students in their academic lives. It takes just a matter of minutes to get their tasks done using such tools. AI has made it much easier for students to access the required information within seconds. No doubt, it is proving to be helpful, but it is also negatively impacting the thought process of the young generation. The effort to find information is no longer there, and the ability to skim through different research to gather fact-based data, conduct surveys to obtain diverse opinions, and evaluate information critically are all being hindered.
Humans have long focused on developing critical thinking, which directly influences character development, and it is now being promoted widely in Early Childhood Education. A study conducted by Hatuwe and his team highlighted that social, mental, and emotional development occur most during the early years of human life, and primary schools are bringing up such activities that improve the cognition of students. So, we can get the idea of how necessary cognitive development is to lead a meaningful life.
In a report, when teachers were asked about the use of ChatGPT by students, they observed a decline in genuine learning experiences. Students’ curiosity to know the deeper meaning of lessons taught in classrooms was undermined due to the greater reliance on AI technologies for solutions. The students were discovered to be heavily dependent on Chatbots, to the extent that every response, discussion, and even word used by students mirrored the language of AI chatbots. They no longer have their own ideas, which is quite concerning. Students are seen to lose the struggle of seeking the right information as a very fine and polished version of data is provided by chatbots, and the consequences are clear: a decline in creativity and intellectual development.
As AI has replaced traditional learning methods with modern ones, it has also impacted the learning pathways in students. Students have historically developed a variety of strategies to reach conclusions in an academic environment, which has led to the emergence of numerous ideas and perspectives. However, with the abundance of easily accessible information by AI tools, the material provided is repeatedly used, which automatically leads to bias. The ideas, methods and procedures utilised by youngsters are not the result of their own thought processes; rather, they are pre-made by machines.
It is in the hands of humans to overcome the misuse of AI tools. After all, it was the human brain that invented such technologies — so how can it not be possible to control their use? We can take essential steps to openly discuss the potential risks of overdependence on chatbots. By raising awareness among youngsters, a balance can be created between traditional and modern learning methods, making education more effective and holistic. Moreover, promoting project-based learning, hands-on classroom experiences, and encouraging active participation in discussions can significantly enhance critical thinking among students.
The technology should be used only for assistance, not to perform the entire task.