College Students Have Changed Forever
7 days ago
- #Student Behavior
- #AI in Education
- #Higher Education Challenges
- College students, especially the class of 2026, have integrated AI tools like ChatGPT into their academic work extensively.
- Almost two-thirds of Harvard undergraduates and 92% of British students use AI for assignments, with some admitting to submitting AI-generated work.
- AI is now a habitual tool for students, comparable to social media or processed food, rather than just a novelty or cheating method.
- Students justify AI use for efficiency and time management, balancing academic pressures with extracurricular activities and personal interests.
- Some students, like Harrison Lieber, view AI as a pragmatic tool to enhance productivity and focus on career-relevant skills.
- Others, like Da’Juantay Wynter, use AI for summarizing readings when pressed for time due to multiple commitments.
- Omar Abdelmoity notes that students often turn to AI due to stress, high expectations, and the need to 'time shift' for more achievements.
- Professors are struggling to adapt, with some reverting to handwritten, in-class assignments to curb AI use, risking student alienation.
- Moral appeals and discussions about AI's environmental impact have shown some effectiveness in discouraging misuse.
- Students criticize the lack of innovation in teaching methods, suggesting more discussion-based assessments and project-based learning.
- Professors face their own temptations to use AI for tasks like writing recommendation letters and syllabi, mirroring student behavior.
- The broader challenges in higher education, including funding cuts and bureaucratic pressures, exacerbate the difficulty of addressing AI's impact.
- Both students and professors must redefine the value of education in the AI era, with classroom practices needing significant redesign.