Good survey (1045 parents & teens 13-18) showing high use of GenAI in schools (with short podcast)

Yet another good survey (1045 parents and teens 13-18) showing high use of GenAI in US schools. Now the predictable story of learners using AI on the SLY.

Use

First, we have to recognise that they’re using it and that their use is across a number of tools for different purposes. But homework and assignments are the most common.

• 7/10 teens, 13 to 18 used at least one type of AI
• Using AI for a variety of purposes
• Help with homework most common 
• 40% report using AI for school assignments 
• 63% of AI users used chatbots or text generators
• 57% used search engines with AI generated results

Permission

It would appear that about half have had no guidance, or don’t know of such guidance from schools. This is worrying and shows how institutions lagging in their professional duties, to create the right context for learning and behaviour. Parents, of course, are usually kept in the dark

• Even split on using AI with/without teacher’s permission 
• 6/10 teens say school has no rules/don’t know for AI use

Parents

Most parents are in dark about their child’s generative AI use. They say schools have not communicated about AI policies and only 37% of parents whose teen had used GenAI platform thought their child had used it.

Accuracy

With around half using other sources to check accuracy, this is to be expected from teens. However, as hallucination errors rapidly decline, and capabilities in maths and science increase, this is a diminishing problem. This is less of a problem with high school content, compared to say Universities.

• 49% checked other sources to verify accuracy of AI  for assignments
• 39% using AI detected problems and inaccuracies

Discussions

Teens who’ve had class discussions about AI more likely to have nuanced views about its usefulness and challenges. More often they say it has changed the skills, educational path, or job they plan to pursue. That’s fascinating. The Harvard review at College levels said exactly the same thing, that these experiences are shaping hteir view of their own futures, even resulting in rethinks on study paths and careers.

Conclusion

Use is normalised, with a range of tools for a range of purposes but still mostly for homework and assignments. Schools tardy in having policies and not much use within schools. Parents in the dark about all of this.

Here's an AI generated podcast about the report:

There’s lots of other interesting detail in the report. Remember this is a US study.
https://www.commonsensemedia.org/research/teen-and-young-adult-perspectives-on-generative-ai-patterns-of-use-excitements-and-concerns