AI Tools in Schools: U.S. Teachers Remain Skeptical
PEW Research Center, a leading research organization in the United States, studied the perceptions of K-12 teachers on students’ use of artificial intelligence. According to the survey conducted by PEW Research Center in the fall of 2023, a significant portion of teachers working in K-12 in the country expressed a negative opinion about the general use of AI tools.
35% of public school teachers stated that the use of AI tools in K-12 education does more harm than good to students. While 32% of teachers indicated that the benefits and harms are equal, only 6% noted that it was more beneficial. The survey also revealed that 24% of middle school teachers and 19% of elementary school teachers think AI tools are harmful to students, with high school teachers having more negative views compared to elementary and middle school teachers.
In a separate survey conducted by PEW, US teens were asked about their experiences and opinions on ChatGPT in their schoolwork. Of the teens who had heard of ChatGPT, 19% used it in their schoolwork, with this rate increasing with grade level. 24% of 11th and 12th graders who knew about ChatGPT used it in their schoolwork, compared to 17% of 9th and 10th graders, and 12% of 7th and 8th graders.
Teens’ opinions on whether using ChatGPT is acceptable depend on its purpose. Among those familiar with ChatGPT, 69% find it acceptable to use it to research new topics, 39% to solve math problems, and 20% find it acceptable to use it for writing essays.