Middle Years

Generative AI

The use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in education is an area of excitement, along with concern for teachers (and some students). So rather than outlining my specific thoughts about how our middle years students use AI, I thought I’d have some fun and ask Google’s Gemini model, AI itself, what appropriate use of AI for middle school students would be.

Below is what was presented: 

For middle school students, appropriate AI use focuses on AI as a tool to enhance learning, not replace it. It emphasizes critical thinking, responsible use, and ethical considerations, with examples including brainstorming, research, and creative writing assistance. 

Here's a more detailed breakdown.

What AI Can Help With:

Brainstorming and Idea Generation

AI can be a valuable tool for sparking creativity and exploring different angles on a topic, whether for essays, projects, or presentations. 

Research and Information Gathering

AI-powered search engines and tools can help students find information faster and more efficiently, allowing them to focus on understanding and analysing the material. 

Skill Development

AI can provide personalized learning experiences and practice opportunities, such as grammar checks, language learning apps, and coding exercises. 

Creative Writing

AI can assist with generating ideas, outlines, and even initial drafts, allowing students to focus on developing their own voice and style. 

Data Analysis and Visualization

AI can help students explore and visualize data, making it easier to understand complex concepts and draw meaningful conclusions. 

Learning about AI itself

Middle schoolers can learn about AI through hands-on projects, coding, and exploring how AI is used in different fields. 

Important Considerations and Guidelines for Responsible Use:

Transparency and Citation

Students should always acknowledge and cite any AI assistance they receive, ensuring academic integrity and avoiding plagiarism. 

Critical Thinking and Verification

Students should not blindly accept AI-generated information but should instead critically evaluate it and verify it with reliable sources. 

Focus on Learning, Not Just Output

AI should enhance learning, not simply produce a finished product. Students should focus on developing their own skills and understanding. 

Ethical Considerations

Discuss the ethical implications of AI, such as bias, misinformation, and privacy, to ensure responsible and informed use. 

Teacher Guidance and Support:

Teachers should guide and support students in using AI responsibly and ethically and ensure that AI is used appropriately in the classroom. 

Academic Integrity

Students should understand that using AI to cheat or plagiarize is unacceptable and will have consequences.

While I don’t disagree with the ideas AI presents, I do feel that a few areas are missing. Firstly, safety. Little emphasis is placed on the privacy of information shared with AI, and I feel this is a crucial area for our students to be aware of before entering any information into AI. 

Secondly, bias in the information being used as a database for AI is not fully highlighted. Most notably, how AI uses data from all online sources (some less reliable than others and some very dated) is an area that students need to be very aware of and critical of. 

Finally, the environmental impact of AI data centres takes a heavy toll on the planet. Not only the electronics used in the components, but the high energy required to run these electronic databases, along with the water used to cool electrical components, all have a heavy environmental impact just to generate an AI response.   

I would go so far as to say that all of our Middle School students are using AI for a variety of tasks at school. I just encourage them to be mindful of the purpose of their use of generative AI, to be critical and responsible thinkers in how and what they use AI for, and to sometimes do things the hard way, which is far more rewarding and satisfying. 

Dr Ben Hawthorne 

Head of Middle Years