Introduction
There’s no putting AI back in the magic lamp. It’s here to stay, so it’s worthwhile acknowledging that AI in student writing can be a helpful tool in many areas. Some students use AI to create study guides and flashcards, families use AI to help plan vacations, and busy moms use AI to brainstorm birthday party ideas and activities. But it also has serious drawbacks with long-term consequences when it comes to student writing. Here are some reasons that parents and teachers should work to minimize AI use in writing assignments:
Lack of Critical Thinking
Critical thinking is the objective analysis and evaluation of an issue or article to form a judgment. Critical thinking allows a student to read something and decide if it is true or false. It allows them to make their own decisions and judgments that, in extreme circumstances, keep them safe and growing in their knowledge of the world around them. Essentially…critical thinking develops leaders, not followers. When students rely on AI to generate essays or responses, they do not engage deeply with the material to form their own perspectives. Writing is an excellent exercise for developing critical thinking, and relying on AI can make students miss out on the process of analyzing, synthesizing, and reflecting on the subject matter.
Plagiarism Concerns
Using AI to generate written work can result in plagiarism, even if the student doesn’t intend to cheat. AI-generated work might closely resemble other sources, and if students don’t properly cite their sources or modify the text for academic purposes, it could be considered academic dishonesty, and their integrity may be questioned.
Reduced Writing Skills
Writing is a skill that improves with practice. If students use AI to write their papers, they might not develop essential writing skills such as structure, grammar, clarity, and style. These skills are important not just for academic success, but for effective communication in general, which can have long-term implications. If a student doesn’t take the time to learn proper writing skills without AI, they will “miss the boat” and find themselves lacking in the workforce when it comes to both written and verbal communication.
Reduced Confidence
Heavy reliance on AI tools often results in a lack of self-confidence. Students may rely on technology out of convenience or time constraints, but over time, they become dependent and realize they cannot do as well on their own. This contributes to a lack of confidence in their own abilities. Ultimately, a lack of confidence in writing and communication inhibits independent and creative thinking, holding students back.
Inaccurate Information
While AI tools can write text, they may sometimes provide inaccurate information. If students are not vigilant—or don’t have the critical thinking to recognize errors—they might inadvertently use incorrect details or ideas generated by AI without proper fact-checking.
Conclusion
It cannot be over-emphasized how important it is for students to learn to write well without AI assistance. Ideally, parents and teachers would partner to minimize AI use and work together when it is discovered. Punishment and failing grades are not always the answer. I would much rather see an honest and frank conversation between parent and student about the pitfalls of AI use and an opportunity from the teacher to redo the paper or assignment. This allows the student to see that they can complete the work independently and builds much-needed confidence.
It is also important to note that educators and parents should not be solely looking for excellent, perfect papers. The goal in writing education is not perfection but to see growth and improvement from assignment to assignment. Most importantly, there is no shortcut when learning to write.