Scientists Gave 12-Year-Olds Access to an AI Tutor and You Probably Already Know What They Did With It
"The issue is that most students don’t use it that way." The post Scientists Gave 12-Year-Olds Access to an AI Tutor and You Probably Already Know What They Did With It appeared first on Futurism .
Advocates for AI in education believe the technology could accelerate learning and prepare students for an evolving workforce. However, the reality has lagged behind these optimistic expectations. Educators have observed students struggling to engage with AI tools in the AI era. In a recent study, scientists provided 12-year-olds in 18 Tennessee middle schools with access to Khanmigo, a generative AI tutor from Khan Academy, for two years.
The tool was intended to be used during school hours and guide students through learning without providing correct answers. The study's findings suggest that students largely ignored the tool, using it for unrelated, off-topic conversations and attempts to extract answers. Researchers noted that engagement was minimal, emphasizing the critical role of human interaction in education.
While some students used the AI as a tutor, most engaged in playful experimentation and mischief, illustrating the challenge of encouraging productive use of AI in classrooms.
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