Top Takeaways Teachers are taught to use AI detectors to prevent students from cheating. Some students are confused or overwhelmed by the rapid-fire feedback AI provides. Districts are trying to develop more systematic approaches to introducing AI into the classroom. In Gregory Dharman’s eighth grade math class at South Lake Middle School in Irvine, the exit ticket his students turn in every month doesn’t go to the teacher — they go to Snorkl, an artificial intelligence software program capable of grading quizzes, exams and homework. How does Snorkl work? Students type in responses to questions or answer verbally, and receive instant feedback. If students don’t get an acceptable score, they can retake the quiz until they do. What is happening at South Lake Middle is happening across California as middle schools become ground zero for introducing AI into curriculum and classrooms. Experts say that students in elementary school may be too young to interact with AI, and students going into high school should already know how to use it. A RAND survey revealed that 41% of middle schoolers in the U.S. said that they use AI for their schoolwork. At South Lake, Dharman teaches seventh and eighth grade mathematics, robotics and introduction to computer applications. He has been teaching for five years and has received AI training from the Irvine Unified School District for the past three years. Last year, Dharman served as an educational technology mentor. Every quarter that year, he and dozens of teachers crowded into a large…
