When curriculum is changed, the focus is often on how we teach rather than questioning what's actually being taught and why.
We've changed how we teach students to arrive at answers in math. We emphasize number sense and conceptual understanding rather than relying exclusively on memorized procedures. We've introduced different approaches to literacy instruction, writing frameworks, reading strategies, and assessment.
But how often do we step back and question the purpose of the content itself?
I've used AI to aid my writing process. I wrote my entire philosophical framework with AI as a thinking partner.
After probably 75 000 messages over two years or so, there are no more em dashes or phrases using the word “gently” in the output. ChatGPT now closely mimics my voice and how I talk. It turns out, you can make the em dashes go away without repeatedly prompting for it. Context and history play an important role in how AI responds to you.
Why did I use AI to write the framework? Because I wanted an a-moral, non-emotional, reasonably neutral framework that explained cause and effect independently of human story and perception. I used AI to help examine situations logically and question the assumptions behind them.
If kids are writing their essays with AI, we need to start asking why.
Back in 2004, are these the same kids who would have tried to find an essay online? In 1985, are these the kids who would have asked a friend to write the essay for them, or simply copied someone else’s?
If yes, then the problem isn’t AI. The problem is the essay. Whether the issue is the student’s inability to write it or their complete disinterest in it, the outcome is the same: they aren’t going to write the essay.
Why do we learn new things?
Interest or curiosity. Somebody else tells us to. It serves some sort of a purpose in our lives. It’s needed for survival.
The part we struggle with in schools is what we tell kids they need to know. If it's interesting to them, they'll learn it anyway. If it fills a meaningful purpose, they'll probably learn it anyway. But just because the curriculum says so is a much harder thing to convince a student to go along with.