Is AI a homework hack? — The RCHK Truth

By Jasmine Chan

In the past few years, both in classrooms and after school, RCHK (Renaissance College Hong Kong) has been shaped to embrace the use of AI. However, as Artificial Intelligence continues to rapidly advance, students are slowly starting to abuse its purpose.

The breakthrough of artificial intelligence is expected to immensely impact the next generation as it triggers the next big revolution in the history of technology. The Mich, a news article company based in Michigan, states, “86% of students use AI in their studies, with nearly one in four students reporting to use it daily.” Furthermore, a survey of faculty at Northeastern University found that the most common concerns about AI included the potential for cheating, over-reliance on AI, and ethical concerns,” suggesting that if students continue to overuse AI for unjust reasons, the future of education may be at stake.

Students from RCHK have also noticed a shift compared to previous years. Julia Tang from 7.5 observed, “I think it’s academic pressure or laziness, they might feel the need to use AI, because it might be that they themselves don’t feel the need to do it, or they themselves don’t need to do it,” which might further support the theory.

“I have a feeling that students are using AI for things that are unethical, even when they say that, ‘oh, I didn't realise I wasn’t supposed to do this’.” Mentions Kim Wells, a teacher and librarian. “I think it’s not because they want to cheat while using AI, but because they are struggling—whether it’s because there’s not enough time or other reasons,” This implies that students might not use AI out of a desire to get a better grade or to achieve something, but to simply to catch up when they feel behind.

While AI usually faces scrutiny in academic settings, many believe it offers distinct advantages for studying. Adrian Wan, a student in year 10.5 mentioned, “I know some people who use AI for things like revision where they enter the content of the unit and the AI gives them some tips on how to start on an assignment,” proving that AI isn’t always as inadequate as some people think it may be.

A lot of peers and teachers know about the system that RCHK uses to discipline students who use AI. Although, some say that it could be improved. “I think it would be a better system if there were more consequences,” Ms. Kim stated. “Not like cleaning chewing gum off the tables or something like that. More like having an impact on your ATLs in your report where it then becomes a bit weightier than just saying ‘hey, you shouldn’t use AI’.”

Tangentially, AI integration extends beyond the RCHK campus to other ESF (English Schools Foundation) schools. Both Clearwater Bay and Kennedy School now have AI Chatbots and Coding projects implemented in their standard curricula. Kennedy School stated, “At Kennedy School, we are acutely aware of the risks and benefits to learning provided by recent developments in technology. We continually review our approaches and investigate new possibilities to make sure we harness technology to support our learning and not the other way around."