By Dr. Shaan Patel
Will the reliance on artificial intelligence tools destroy the ability of students to think critically in the future? This question has caused widespread panic among educators across the globe. While students do currently use AI in a variety of ways at school, it’s up to educators to teach how to use these technological aids without diminishing the critical thinking skills education is intended to develop.
In classrooms around the world, AI is quickly being adopted as a major shortcut for all kinds of assignments. Students use it to immediately generate answers to questions, write essays in no time, explain math in different ways, and summarize literature quickly.
Undoubtedly, learning is diminished when AI is used as a replacement for thought. But when AI is used to support critical thinking instead, this actually enhances learning. The importance of this distinction is paramount. Instead of banning AI in classrooms, educators should focus on teaching students to question it, validate it, and think beyond it. Use AI as a study buddy, not a study replacement.
College Applications
The effect of AI is particularly noticeable in college admissions applications, as students are increasingly using it to write their personal statements. Admissions officers now read thousands of essays that are filled with nothing but formulaic writing. They often feel these essays have no soul.
A strong essay isn’t just impressive; it needs to be authentic. AI can help to clarify, but it cannot consolidate lived experience. AI should be used as the editor, not the author.
In addition, students are using AI to help them compare colleges and determine potential costs, evaluate majors, and even research possible jobs and career pathways. What used to take hours of navigating different websites is reduced to a few prompts and questions.
AI is powerful when it can help students access information and make better choices, however, relying on it to generate a summary of educational resources without verifying the information, or missing the nuances and intricacies to make decisions, can lead to AI diluting critical thought.
Entrance Exams
Recently, the SAT and ACT college entrance exams have fully transitioned to digital and adaptive tests. Students feel more comfortable with using digital prep tools, and AI-based tools offer personalized practice and can target weaknesses in a student’s learning.
However, no tech tool will ever replace the need for a student’s own academic ability when it comes to standardized tests. Technology that is used in test prep is meant to optimize a student’s process, not replace it. AI used to prepare for standardized tests will never replace the student’s own effort, practice, and need for mental fortitude. After all, no artificial intelligence tool can be used to assist a student on test day for the SAT or ACT itself.
Education is no stranger to change due to technology. Whenever a new technology is introduced, some skepticism during the adoption phase will be inevitable. The introduction of calculators is one example of a technological change in recent history that initially caused much panic among math teachers. But eventually, educators adapted to the calculator. The same will be true for AI.
Undoubtedly, AI has the ability to provide personalized and more expansive instructional and tutoring resources in a classroom. But teachers and students will have to be responsible for their own critical thinking when using AI, instead of fully relying on AI tools to do all the heavy lifting for them.
Educators will need to teach students how to use AI effectively. Critical thinking, effort, and independent thought will still be essential skills in the future. The classrooms that will be left behind are the ones that do not embrace AI, and the classrooms that get ahead will be the ones that fill their students with AI-enhanced students capable of independent critical thinking.
Dr. Shaan Patel is the Founder and CEO of leading test-prep and college-admissions company Prep Expert, which offers online SAT and ACT courses, academic tutoring, and college admissions consulting. Prep Expert has helped more than 100,000 students improve their SAT and ACT scores, get into top colleges, and win over $100 million in scholarships.
