Growing up in the era of DOS, we didn’t have sleek user interfaces or touchscreens. Instead, we typed commands into a blank screen to perform basic tasks, from running programs to managing files. I remember learning to program using Turtle software, typing commands like “right turn 90” and “forward 30” to draw a simple square. If you wanted to save your work, you used floppy disks—fragile squares barely holding a few megabytes, certainly not enough for today’s files.
Fast forward to today: students snap a picture of an assignment on their phones and have answers, essays, and reports generated in minutes. What used to take weeks of planning and execution is now done in hours or less. This shift raises a crucial question: Is AI making things easier, or is it robbing students of the challenges that once built resilience and problem-solving skills?
Changing Classroom Culture
With all these advancements in technology, it’s easy to marvel at how far we’ve come since the days of DOS and floppy disks. But as a high school educator today, I question whether these conveniences are truly serving our students or making them dependent on shortcuts.
Today, we use technology for everything—from taking attendance to designing and distributing assignments. I rely on computer systems to track student progress, measure literacy, assess problem-solving skills, and even automate feedback. While technology has made some aspects of teaching more efficient, it has also brought new challenges. Students have become harder to manage, and the cultural shift in attitudes is undeniable.
No longer is it just about academics. Students today arrive late, forget their supplies, and face few consequences for it. They challenge authority almost for sport, making it harder to maintain an effective learning environment. When I was a student, we respected our teachers because we were afraid of disappointing our parents. Today, that sense of accountability has faded. The widespread use of cell phones in classrooms has only made matters worse—students are glued to their screens, watching movies, and playing games on school-issued laptops.
Even more troubling is the gap between actual academic ability and student performance. Many students can’t read or write at their grade level, can’t structure a basic paper, and have never used a dictionary. Yet, these same students are getting straight A’s and being rewarded for minimal effort. We live in an era of gentle parenting, and by extension, gentle teaching—rewarding mediocrity instead of demanding excellence.
The Central Dilemma of AI in Education
This article explores whether AI is truly enhancing education or if it is removing the necessary challenges that once built resilience and accountability. As an educator, I’ve seen a shift in how both neurodiverse and neurotypical students approach learning. While AI provides access to more resources than ever before, is this convenience leading to deeper learning, or are we seeing a decline in essential skills like time management, problem-solving, and personal accountability?
The Evolution of Learning: From DOS to AI
AI has undoubtedly been a game-changer in education, particularly for neurodiverse students who have historically struggled with traditional teaching methods. AI can personalize the learning experience and help students navigate barriers to communication and understanding. For example, AI tools like text-to-speech assist students with dyslexia or auditory processing issues, while ChatGPT can help students organize their thoughts more effectively.
In addition, programs like QTRobot, designed to engage predictably with autistic students, help reduce anxiety around communication. These tools provide consistent interactions, helping students develop conversational skills they can later apply to real-world situations. Similarly, students with executive functioning difficulties benefit from AI-driven reminders and interventions that keep them on track with tasks and schedules. University of Bridgeport|Options Autism
However, while AI benefits neurodiverse learners, it’s harder to account for these benefits in chaotic classrooms. Neurotypical students, who often struggle with focus, create distractions—yelling, making noise, or engaging in disruptive behavior—that affect their classmates. This chaotic environment impacts both teachers and students, particularly neurodiverse students who may react by stimming or using noise-canceling headphones to cope. The tools designed to help them thrive often can’t reach their full potential due to these classroom disruptions.
Are Today’s Students Smarter or Just Faster?
Students today are part of the technology era, and in many ways, they are smarter than we were. They’re exposed to information and technology before they can even walk—things that Generation X is just now getting a handle on. They are moving faster, thinking bigger, and achieving higher success rates than we ever thought possible.
Yet, this advancement has come without structure. Many students today are not self-thinkers; they are highly dependent on their devices. The ease of access to information has made it unnecessary for them to engage deeply with the material or form their own conclusions. Instead of figuring things out for themselves, they rely on Google, ChatGPT, and other AI tools to do the thinking for them.
This leads to a troubling trend: Are students truly smarter, or just more efficient? We have speed limits for a reason. Sometimes, slowing down to process information allows for deeper understanding. If students are rushing through learning with AI, are they sacrificing the skills they need for real-world problem-solving?
The Impact of Social Marketing and Screen Time
Social marketing plays a significant role in shaping students’ dependence on technology. Companies are constantly devising ways to keep children glued to their devices, whether through social media, games, or other distractions. The more time they spend in these make-believe worlds, the harder it becomes to pull them away for something as "boring" as school.
For many children, this obsession with screens starts early. Parents often use devices as convenient babysitters, allowing children endless screen time. When I was younger, households typically had just one shared desktop computer. Screen time was limited by other obligations like chores, school, and playing outside with friends. Today, screens are omnipresent, and the line between work, school, and entertainment is increasingly blurred. According to research from Techopedia, this reliance on screens can undermine critical thinking, communication skills, and face-to-face interactions.
Parental Responsibility and Ethical Concerns
Parents have a crucial role in helping their children manage screen time. Limiting access to screens allows children to engage in more physical activities, develop hobbies, and explore their surroundings. By reducing screen time, parents can encourage their children to think creatively, build problem-solving skills, and foster meaningful connections with others.Techopedia
However, there’s also a growing concern about students relying too heavily on AI tools like ChatGPT. While these tools can enhance learning, they also make it easier for students to avoid doing the work themselves. This poses a challenge for educators, who may find it difficult to detect violations of academic integrity when students use AI to generate papers or assignments.Options Autism
Striking a Balance Between Technology and Learning
In the end, AI offers incredible potential for enhancing education, but it comes with risks that we can’t ignore. Neurodiverse students benefit from the personalized learning tools that AI provides, but those same tools can be undermined by distractions in the classroom. Neurotypical students, while faster and more tech-savvy, risk losing the ability to think deeply and critically.
As educators, parents, and students, we need to find a balance between embracing technology and preserving the fundamental skills that help students succeed in life. AI should be a tool that supports learning, not a crutch that diminishes students' ability to engage with the world around them. By fostering resilience, accountability, and critical thinking, we can ensure that students not only succeed in the classroom but are prepared to thrive beyond it.
Let’s Rethink Our Approach
We all have a role to play in shaping the future of education. Parents, take time to limit your child’s screen exposure and encourage more active, hands-on learning experiences. Teachers, consider how you can integrate technology without letting it replace foundational skills like critical thinking and problem-solving. And students, challenge yourselves to use AI tools responsibly—don’t let them do all the work for you.
Let’s take a moment to reflect: How can we make sure AI enhances learning rather than diminishes it? By working together, we can create an educational environment that nurtures smarter, more capable, and thoughtful students—ready to face the challenges of the world, both with and without technology.
