2 minute read
Machine learning: Finding AI's place in education
By Sam Kulp
Artificial intelligence is impacting all aspects of education, and users are discovering new applications every day. Students have been especially quick to adopt AI—using it to generate essays, solve math problems, and complete assignments with minimal effort. While AI can be a powerful learning tool, improper use raises concerns about academic integrity and highlights the need for ethical and responsible use in schools. To address this concern, educators must not only understand how AI works but also know how to guide students in using it thoughtfully and appropriately.
During the spring of 2025, teachers in the AIU’s AI Fellows Program explored practical applications of AI in their own schools and classrooms. In response to challenges with student misuse, the fellows created AI-centered professional development training to help colleagues better understand AI’s capabilities and limitations. Kevin Hughes, a fellow and computer science teacher at Deer Lakes Middle School, took this a step further by organizing AI Literacy Day to engage students directly. His goal was to shift the conversation from misuse to meaningful use by helping students explore AI in different academic contexts.
Hughes surveyed 192 students and discovered that 88% were using AI and 34.5% admitted to relying on it for homework answers. These insights helped shape the structure of AI Literacy Day, which integrated discussions and activities into every class period.
“Students went through a full regular school day. In each period, they had a conversation about AI and how it relates to different subjects and then did an activity utilizing AI within that subject,” Hughes said.
A survey of 192 students at Deer Lakes Middle School revealed 88% were using AI and 34.5% relied on it for homework answers.
For example, in science class, students used AI to deepen their understanding of lesson-specific topics through guided prompts. In Language Arts, they critically evaluated AI-generated book summaries for accuracy. Each activity encouraged students to think more deeply about how AI can support— not replace—learning.
Read more about the AI Fellows Program:
