How students are using AI beyond cheating

Photo Credit: Unleashing the Power of AI: A Conversation With Daniel Wu

Between important essays and everyday assignments, CJHS students are demonstrating the positives of AI usage. While most teachers believe students use platforms like ChatGPT and Gemini only to do their assignments for them, we are slowly seeing a change. Three highly intelligent students share their perspectives on the positives AI can bring to school. Starting with CJHS freshman Aria Spitza, an honors and knowledgeable student. Spitza balances her academics by only using AI when it is important and necessary. 

“First, I only use AI when I need to check over my grammar and mistakes, which might have been on my essays or in an upcoming project,” Spitza said. 

Spitza’s ability to demonstrate appropriate use of AI has been shown through her high GPA, while also showing that artificial intelligence is not only used to cheat on assignments. 

Now, let’s go to our next student, CJHS freshman Zahra Doolen. Doolen strives every day to be the best student she can be. Whether that is studying for upcoming tests weeks in advance, or dedicating her free time to reading books, she is easily a gifted person. Doolen is in all honors classes and is one of the top-ranked in our class. While there are opposing views about AI, Doolen shares her insight on what others assume about these students. 

“People assume that students who use AI are lazy and do not want to do their own work,” Doolen said. 

Doolen, who has experience with positively using AI, shares how people are assuming that AI is being misused by students to avoid doing their own work. 

Last but not least is CJHS freshman Leanne Scanlon. Scanlon doesn’t use AI to finish assignments faster; she utilizes it to study smarter. As AI started growing, Scanlon used it to get ahead and further her education, instead of using it to cheat through her education. AI doesn’t just depend on the platform itself but on how students are choosing to use it. Scanlon doesn’t use AI all the time, but when she does, she is gaining knowledge and understanding. 

“AI has helped me study through multiple tests and quizzes by allowing me to transfer my study guide into Quizlet flashcards,” Scanlon said. 

As AI becomes a big part of education, its value depends on how students like Scanlon choose to use it. In responsible use, AI can be a big tool to help students succeed.