AI in education: finding the right balance for our students

As artificial intelligence tools like ChatGPT and Google’s Bard become increasingly common in our daily lives, educators, parents, and students across Nassau County are grappling with a critical question: When is the right time to introduce AI into academic learning?

Recent discussions in academic circles, sparked by computer science professor Cal Newport’s insights on AI in education, have highlighted a crucial distinction that deserves our attention. The question isn’t whether AI belongs in education — it’s when students are developmentally ready to use it effectively.

Building the Foundation First

Consider how we teach driving. We don’t hand car keys to a 10-year-old, no matter how advanced the vehicle’s safety features. Instead, we ensure young people first develop coordination, judgment, and rule-following skills before introducing them to powerful tools that can amplify both good and poor decision-making.

The same principle applies to AI in academics. During the K-12 years, students are developing fundamental cognitive skills: reading comprehension, mathematical reasoning, critical thinking, and perhaps most importantly, mental stamina — the ability to work through challenging problems without immediately seeking the easiest solution.

When students become accustomed to AI assistance too early, they may never develop these essential mental muscles. Just as GPS navigation can atrophy our natural sense of direction, premature reliance on AI can prevent students from building the intellectual resilience they’ll need throughout their lives.

The College Transition 

By the time students reach their junior and senior years of college, something significant has changed. They’ve presumably developed a solid foundation of knowledge and critical thinking skills. At this stage, AI transforms from a potential crutch into a powerful amplifier of existing capabilities.

A college senior studying chemistry can use AI to quickly analyze complex molecular data, synthesize information from multiple research papers, or generate initial drafts of lab reports that they can then refine with their developed expertise. The AI becomes a sophisticated research assistant rather than a replacement for thinking.

Real-World Applications 

This approach mirrors how professionals use AI in the workplace. Experienced journalists use AI to help with research and initial drafts, but their years of training help them fact-check, add nuance, and craft compelling narratives. Seasoned doctors might use AI diagnostic tools, but their medical education and experience guide interpretation and treatment decisions.

The key difference is that these professionals developed their core competencies before AI became available. They can distinguish between AI’s helpful suggestions and its limitations because they have deep domain knowledge.

What This Means for Nassau County Families

For local families, this perspective suggests a thoughtful approach to AI in education:

• Elementary and middle school years: Focus on building strong reading, writing, and mathematical foundations. Encourage children to struggle productively with homework problems rather than seeking quick AI solutions. This isn’t about making learning harder — it’s about ensuring the learning actually happens.

• High school: Begin introducing AI literacy — understanding how these tools work, their limitations, and ethical considerations. Students can learn about AI without becoming dependent on it for core academic work.

• College and beyond: Embrace AI as a powerful tool for research, analysis, and productivity, while maintaining the critical thinking skills to evaluate and refine its outputs.

The Long View

This isn’t a technophobic position — it’s a developmental one. AI will undoubtedly play an increasingly important role in education and professional life. But like any powerful tool, its introduction requires timing, training, and wisdom.

Our goal should be to raise students who can think critically with or without AI assistance. When they eventually do use these tools, they’ll do so as empowered users rather than dependent ones, combining human insight with artificial intelligence to tackle complex challenges.

As we navigate this technological shift, perhaps the most important lesson we can teach our children is that the goal of education isn’t to find the quickest path to an answer — it’s to develop the capacity for deep thinking that will serve them throughout their lives, regardless of what tools the future may bring.