AI 'invades' schools: Many students are increasingly lazy to think about homework

After more than 2 years of researching and using AI tools such as ChatGPT and Claude AI, Nguyen Lan Anh, a student at Viet Duc High School (Hanoi), admitted that she and AI are "inseparable" in all learning activities and learning about life knowledge.

AI tools help Lan Anh summarize a large amount of documents in a short time or support analysis and solving difficult exercises that are outside the textbook program. "For example, in Literature, with just one click, AI can provide information from an outline to a detailed, engaging article on any social discussion issue, even with diverse content, better than sample essays," Lan Anh said.

As for solving difficult Math, Physics, and Chemistry questions, female students only need to enter question data in the practice tests, without taking much time, ChatGPT provides 99% accurate answers, "not just one but sometimes 2-3 different solutions for students to choose from".

Many students rely on AI to do their homework. (Illustration photo: TN)

AI is even more useful when used to do foreign language exercises. From a Korean reading, Lan Anh will ask ChatGPT to create a vocabulary table, then copy foreign language learning applications such as Quizlet, Knowt to study by herself, instead of having to sit and type each word. "I started using AI at the beginning of last school year and had almost no difficulty using it. The main thing is to clearly understand the purpose to enter the correct command for AI," the female student said, sharing that many of her classmates also invested in buying the paid version of AI to have more features for solving exercises, more in-depth and attractive information.

Although AI developers limit the age of use to 18 and above, the reality is that high school students know how to use applications such as Gemini, ChatGPT, MidJourney, Gramarly, Adobe Firefly...

In a survey conducted by AI Education (Google) in December 2023 at a high school in Ho Chi Minh City, 39.3% of 267 students used at least one AI tool to support their studies and homework. They learned about these tools through mass media or were introduced by their parents. The purposes of use were also quite diverse, such as: learning English; solving math and computer science exercises; drawing pictures for classroom presentations; finding ideas for projects; chatting with AI chatbots.

Phan Phuong Thanh, a student at Le Hong Phong High School for the Gifted (HCMC), instead of using Google to search and filter related content like before, now asks questions to ChatGPT. "I often use ChatGPT for theoretical exercises such as history and national defense education or for social questions, behavioral questions... in experiential activities and career guidance subjects," Thanh said.

In the past, female students were quite afraid of group assignments that required them to research knowledge for presentations in front of the class. To learn enough knowledge and events for the presentation, students would have to read a lot of documents, sometimes even taking 2 weeks to complete. Now, with just a few commands and clicks, ChatGPT will provide a wealth of information, "homework completed in a flash".

"I have to pay for ChatGPT to use it most effectively. My friends also often use AI, including a friend who uses Gemini (Google's AI) to practice for the IELTS English certificate exam," the female student added.

AI will erode students' thinking

According to Mr. Nguyen Trong Truong, a teacher at Phenikaa High School (Hanoi), it is not difficult to detect students using AI, ChatGPT to complete their homework, review outlines, etc. For example, the quality of the writing and writing style suddenly become clearer, using more flowery and rich sentences; the writing style is inconsistent. When reading carefully and analyzing the coherence of the writing, teachers can notice a sudden change in writing style, like a patchwork of ideas and lack of coherence.

Students using ChatGPT to do their homework often make the same mistakes. When asked to stand up and summarize the content of the assignment, the main ideas developed in the assignment, they stammer and cannot give a quick answer.

Teachers worry that students' misuse of AI will erode their thinking. (Illustration: TN)

According to Mr. Truong, to detect work with the help of ChatGPT, teachers must first know how to use ChatGPT and use it to look up information provided by students. Teachers can use plagiarism checking tools, or search by keywords to detect articles with content similar to works published online, which is how ChatGPT gets its knowledge.

In addition, teachers base on the process of assessing students' learning ability, through writing in class to compare word usage, grammar structure with the assigned writing. ChatGPT is not omnipotent, so for questions that require students' critical thinking, this tool often answers "silly", not focusing on the requirements given by the teacher.

Dr. Tran Bich Phuong, an independent technology expert, said that students using AI for homework leads to many consequences. Students are not guided to re-evaluate the accuracy and bias in the results generated by AI. They will also have difficulty being aware of copyright violations that may appear in the answers provided by public training data sources used by developers. More seriously, students will use the "creations" provided by AI without citing the source in exercises, tests, and projects done in class.

Dr. Le Duy Tan, International University (Ho Chi Minh City National University) expressed that it is undeniable that artificial intelligence (AI) or ChatGPT brings to education. These include personalizing learning based on the needs and goals of each student, a document repository that allows for quick and effective searching, simple use, and time-saving.

However, Dr. Tan is concerned that students will lose the ability to think creatively and solve homework problems because AI and ChatGPT are becoming more and more popular and are constantly increasing. The education system is being strongly impacted by AI and ChatGPT.

Over-reliance on technology can reduce learners' ability to think and be creative. Overuse of ChatGPT can reduce the ability to understand and empathize with other people's emotions, due to the lack of real and deep interaction.

The co-founder of Lab AioT Vietnam said that ChatGPT's ability to collect and store users' personal information without consent would threaten privacy and cause information insecurity.

"If students continuously rely on ChatGPT to solve homework, they may lose the ability to solve problems and develop problem-solving skills. While not all answers on ChatGPT are correct, this causes negative consequences for their studies as well as their future careers," said Dr. Le Duy Tan.

Minh Khoi