I was expecting some response like this, because schools have “banned” things in the past.
While this is superficially similar, I believe we are talking about substantially different things.
Learning (the goal) is a process. In the case of an assignment, the resulting answer / work product, while it is what is requested, is critically not the goal. However, it is what is evaluated, so many confuse it with the goal (“I want to get a good grade”)
Anything which bypasses the process makes the goal (learning) less likely to be achieved.
So, I think it is fine to use a calculator to accelerate your use of operations you have already learned and understand.
However, I don’t think you should give 3rd graders calculators that just give them the answer to a multiplication or division when they are learning how those things work in the first place.
Similarly, I think it’s fine to do research using the internet to read sources you use to create your own work.
Meanwhile, I don’t think it’s fine to do research using the internet to find a site where you can buy a paper you can submit as your own work.
Right now, LLMs can be used to bypass a great deal of process, which is why I support them not being used.
It’s possible, maybe even likely that we’ll end up with a “supervised learning by AI” approach where the assignment is replaced by “proof of process”, a record of how the student explored the topic interactively. I could see that working if done right.
While this is superficially similar, I believe we are talking about substantially different things.
Learning (the goal) is a process. In the case of an assignment, the resulting answer / work product, while it is what is requested, is critically not the goal. However, it is what is evaluated, so many confuse it with the goal (“I want to get a good grade”)
Anything which bypasses the process makes the goal (learning) less likely to be achieved.
So, I think it is fine to use a calculator to accelerate your use of operations you have already learned and understand.
However, I don’t think you should give 3rd graders calculators that just give them the answer to a multiplication or division when they are learning how those things work in the first place.
Similarly, I think it’s fine to do research using the internet to read sources you use to create your own work.
Meanwhile, I don’t think it’s fine to do research using the internet to find a site where you can buy a paper you can submit as your own work.
Right now, LLMs can be used to bypass a great deal of process, which is why I support them not being used.
It’s possible, maybe even likely that we’ll end up with a “supervised learning by AI” approach where the assignment is replaced by “proof of process”, a record of how the student explored the topic interactively. I could see that working if done right.