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A high schooler writes about AI tools in the classroom

(www.theatlantic.com)
222 points dougb5 | 3 comments | 04 Sep 25 02:37 UTC | HN request time: 0s | source
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AIorNot ◴[04 Sep 25 05:06 UTC] No.45123774[source]▶
I’m an AI engineer but I think schools need a nuclear option

Banish tech in schools (including cell phones) (except during comp classes) but allow it at home

Ie in high school only allow paper and pencil/pen

Go back to written exams (handwriting based)

Be lenient on spelling and grammer

Allow homework, digital tutoring AI assistants and AI only when it not primary- ie for homework not in class work

Bring back oral exams (in a limited way)

Encourage study groups in school but don’t allow digital tech in those groups in class or libraries only outside of campus or in computer labs

Give up iPads and Chromebooks and Pearson etc

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Anonyneko ◴[04 Sep 25 11:26 UTC] No.45126033[source]▶
Back in the day we were writing code on paper (or on punched cards, using them as a paper substitute, as there were a lot of them left over from the Soviet times and they looked very "computer-y"), so even during computer classes you didn't necessarily need a computer. Not that I really think that it can still work in the year 2025 and beyond...
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1. babblingdweeb ◴[04 Sep 25 20:22 UTC] No.45131815[source]▶
I was just talking to younger coworkers about this recently. Mid-90s to early 2000s: FORTRAN, COBOL, C, and C++ classes all had handwritten code parts for homework, handouts, exams, etc. This wasn't just pseudocode, you had to have full syntax, variable declarations, correct spelling of functions, etc. You frequently had to show code optimization, debugging, etc even on paper. Wild times!!

* All of those classes also had lab time (some dedicated, similar to a chemistry class), info on how to get the IDE if you had $ access to a computer at home, and alternatives as well.

Personally, I see more value in pseudo code (written or typed) and sketch type diagrams (analog or digital) than handwriting code. However, it was WILD and amazing to watch the gray-hairs of those days debug your code on paper!

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2. fma ◴[05 Sep 25 01:43 UTC] No.45134242[source]▶
My exams had both per question. Pseudo code then actual code.

This was early 2000s, Java.

3. noisy_boy ◴[05 Sep 25 08:58 UTC] No.45136463[source]▶
Studied Fortran 65 as elective, submitted assignment/exams by writing actual code with pencil paper. Never got access to the cool looking machines in the actually cooled room. I am not kidding that I really enjoyed that paper compared to my other papers.