Opinions split on students using AI for coursework

There is a growing debate about whether students should be allowed to use artificial intelligence, or AI, to help with their coursework. According to a recent YouGov survey commissioned by Cambridge University Press and Assessment, public opinion is split on this issue. The survey found that 89 percent of adults believe it is unacceptable for students to use AI to complete their coursework. However, when it comes to using AI for improving punctuation and grammar, opinions are more divided. About 46 percent of adults said it is acceptable for students to use AI for these purposes, while 44 percent disagreed.

The survey also explored what schools should do to prevent students from misusing AI. Only 16 percent of adults thought that reducing or removing coursework done at home would be the best way to stop students from using AI inappropriately. Most people still believe that coursework is too important to get rid of, even with the rise of AI technology. Jill Duffy, the chief executive of the OCR exam board, has called for a national strategy to address the use of AI in education. She said that AI is already present in schools and is not going away. Duffy believes that a coordinated plan, with funding to make sure all schools can keep up, will help people trust the positive changes AI can bring. She also mentioned that AI could help test different skills and reduce the number of exams students have to take at age 16.

The issue of fairness is also a concern. An independent review of the curriculum and assessment, led by education expert Becky Francis, is looking at how AI might affect standards and fairness in coursework. The review has already published an interim report and will share its final recommendations in the autumn. The YouGov survey also found that most adults do not support teachers using AI to mark coursework, with more than three in five opposed to the idea. However, 27 percent of adults said they support teachers using AI for marking. As AI becomes more common in schools, experts and the public are trying to find the best way to use this technology to help students learn while making sure it is fair for everyone.