Think ChatGPT has all the answers? Think again. From hallucinated facts to biased search results, the digital tools students use every day come with hidden risks. And with platforms like Google, Microsoft, and X all releasing their own AIs—it’s becoming more difficult to sift through the internet sphere of misinformation. Here’s what every student should know about AI and the online world they depend on.
Why Students Should Know About AI
AI is inescapable as every platform and career seems to be wanting users experienced with AI. For now, it seems like AI isn’t going anywhere, so there’s importance to understanding what it is and how it factors into your child’s life. That being said, AI has a number of drawbacks that need to be discussed and evaluated so you and your student know exactly when and where to use it without risking plagiarism or misinformation.
What AI Can and Can’t Do
AI has a number of benefits that it can do:
- Instant access to answers
- Can provide research and sources to outputted answers
- Summarize content
- Brainstorm
- Simulate conversations
Understanding Search Engines vs. AI
Search engines like Google have begun incorporating AI into their search features. On top of this, they now appear at the top of the search results page. They often provide quick answers to questions, but for more complex questions they can begin to fall short. On top of this, accuracy is another concern for many AI platforms. Unless you ask specifically, many AIs won’t show you their sources for information. This can make it difficult when verifying and citing sources. A search engine (in traditional use) requires you to search the web and click on websites yourself. This allows you to ‘screen’ the source before committing to reading it. Finding a reliable site that is on the front page of your google search is generally a good source to cite, while a blog or a business site may be less reliable.
How to Evaluate Online Sources (AI-Generated or Not)
Whether you plan on using AI-generated sources or not, learning how to find a good source is important. There’s a number of questions you can ask that will help you figure out the reliability of the source without the risk of misinformation. These questions are:
- Who wrote this?
- When was it published?
- Is the author/source reputable?
- Does it cite evidence?
If one of these questions is unanswerable, it’s more likely than not an unreliable source. Peer-reviewed articles will always make it easy to find the source, author, publish date, etc. Additionally, it’s important to note that it’s important to inspect any cited evidence. Just because a source is cited, doesn’t mean it’s reliable. If you can confirm that the information and source are accurate it’s a good online source to use!
Ethical Use of AI in Schoolwork
The big question rising in classrooms across the country is the use of AI in schoolwork. Is this ethical? Well, it’s hard to say. AI assisting work is definitely a gray area for concern. While it can ‘help’, you still need to be wary of plagiarism. Many AIs generate content in a formulaic way that makes it easy to identify as AI-generated. For this reason, it’s essential you use it more as a supportive tool than a ghostwriter. It’s also important to be transparent with your teacher about the use of AI. If your teacher doesn’t have an AI policy in the classroom, ask them about it! Many classrooms will allow the use of AI as long as you cite the sources used by the AI and state that AI assisted in writing that piece. Additionally, AI can be a great planner for researching content or writing papers. Have it draw up an outline for you, or help you find credible sources!
How TenneyTutors Helps Students Navigate AI and Online Tools
Our online learning platform: TenneyTutors incorporates digital literacy through its online platform. Each one of our tutors are professional, one-on-one teachers at our in-person private school: The Tenney School. For this reason, you know you are getting the best possible tutor! Our one-on-one guidance can help students develop research skills, ethical AI habits, and AI-awareness! Our goal is preparing students for their future whether that’s through digital literacy, tutoring help for core classes, or executive function training! Visit our scheduling page and see how we can help your student.