Classroom Technology

How Students Use AI vs. How Teachers Think They Use It, in Charts

By Arianna Prothero — September 29, 2023 1 min read
Artificial intelligence and schoolwork image with hand holding pencil with digital AI collage overtop
  • Save to favorites
  • Print

What if much of what we assumed about students and ChatGPT was wrong?

When the generative artificial intelligence program was first made available for widespread use nearly a year ago, awe at the technology’s ability to generate essays on complex topics in seconds swiftly turned to panic that no student would ever do their own homework again.

But new survey data from the Center on Democracy and Technology should call those assumptions into question. In a nationally representative survey of high school students conducted in July and August, only about a quarter of students said they have used a generative AI program like ChatGPT for school assignments.

It turns out that students are using the technology for a range of reasons, from engaging in their hobbies to dealing with mental health and anxiety issues (which brings with it other concerns) to, yes, writing papers.

However, the early and what some experts call exaggerated alarm over students using ChatGPT might have lasting consequences: The perception that students are using AI to cheat could be negatively influencing teachers’ attitudes toward their students. Half of teachers say that generative AI has made them less excited about their students’ work because they can’t be sure it’s actually theirs.

Meanwhile, one in four parents report their child has gotten in trouble or experienced negative consequences for using generative AI to complete an assignment. Among parents of students receiving special education, 31 percent say their child has gotten in trouble for using generative AI.

Following are five charts detailing how students are using generative AI, how much teachers perceive them to be doing so, and whether teachers are receiving guidance and training on generative AI’s use in their schools.

Events

Student Well-Being K-12 Essentials Forum Boosting Student and Staff Mental Health: What Schools Can Do
Join this free virtual event based on recent reporting on student and staff mental health challenges and how schools have responded.
This content is provided by our sponsor. It is not written by and does not necessarily reflect the views of Education Week's editorial staff.
Sponsor
Curriculum Webinar
Practical Methods for Integrating Computer Science into Core Curriculum
Dive into insights on integrating computer science into core curricula with expert tips and practical strategies to empower students at every grade level.
Content provided by Learning.com
Jobs Virtual Career Fair for Teachers and K-12 Staff
Find teaching jobs and other jobs in K-12 education at the EdWeek Top School Jobs virtual career fair.

EdWeek Top School Jobs

Teacher Jobs
Search over ten thousand teaching jobs nationwide — elementary, middle, high school and more.
View Jobs
Principal Jobs
Find hundreds of jobs for principals, assistant principals, and other school leadership roles.
View Jobs
Administrator Jobs
Over a thousand district-level jobs: superintendents, directors, more.
View Jobs
Support Staff Jobs
Search thousands of jobs, from paraprofessionals to counselors and more.
View Jobs

Read Next

Classroom Technology Q&A This School Leader Believes AI Could Transform Education for Students With Dyslexia
AI could revolutionize how people with dyslexia navigate K-12 schools, said a school leader who works with children with the condition.
3 min read
Elementary age boy using computer.
E+ / Getty
Classroom Technology Crafting a School Policy on AI? Here’s What Experts Recommend
AI is developing so rapidly that many educators fear district policies to handle the technology will quickly become outdated.
1 min read
Classroom Technology Khan Academy Plans to Shake Up Writing Instruction With AI Tool
Chatbots designed specifically for K-12 education are expected to proliferate rapidly over the next few years.
3 min read
Illustration of woman using AI on phone.
DigitalVision Vectors