Recently, the education sector in South Korea has begun to express concerns about elementary school students' excessive reliance on AI tools to complete their homework. As some universities have been exposed for cheating using AI, this phenomenon has become more severe in primary schools. More and more elementary students choose to "outsource" their homework by using AI tools when they encounter assignments that require research or thinking.

Primary school students going to school children (2)

Image source note: The image is AI-generated, and the image licensing service provider is Midjourney

In a primary school in Seoul, teachers noticed that older students instinctively seek help from AI during class. Teacher Kim from the fifth grade mentioned that when students discussed "child-free zones," they quickly used ChatGPT, quoting professional terms such as "property rights" and "public attributes of space," which are usually not spontaneously generated by them. Teacher Kim lamented that such situations deprive children of opportunities to think independently.

In addition to teachers' concerns, students themselves also stated that artificial intelligence has become part of their campus life. Some sixth-grade students admitted that they use ChatGPT to resolve disputes or write class election speeches, finding it too troublesome to look up information. Among parents, some are worried that children may develop cognitive dependence on AI; others believe that mastering AI skills is necessary in an era of rapid technological development.

Related experts warn that if not regulated, excessive use of AI by younger students may affect their critical thinking abilities. Professor Yang Jeong-ho from Sungkyunkwan University pointed out that directly copying answers generated by AI goes against the original purpose of using technology to expand thinking, potentially leading to a gradual weakening of students' reasoning and critical abilities. Professor Park Nam-gi from Gwangju University of Education also emphasized that learning should not be "outsourced," and relying on AI to think will only make students stop using their own brains. He called on schools to establish relevant regulations to curb the misuse of AI tools by students.

This phenomenon reflects broader challenges faced by the South Korean education system, namely, how to enhance students' digital literacy while avoiding AI replacing the fundamental elements of the learning process.

Key Points:

🔍 Many elementary students rely on AI tools to complete their homework, causing concern among teachers.

🧠 Educational experts warn that excessive use of AI may weaken students' critical thinking abilities.

📚 Parents have mixed reactions to this phenomenon, with some concerned about cognitive dependence and others supporting the mastery of AI skills.