Many students are increasingly relying on artificial intelligence tools, such as ChatGPT, to complete their school assignments, leading to a decline in their critical thinking skills, reveals a recent report by KPMG.
According to the report, nearly three-quarters of Canadian students surveyed admit to using AI tools for their schoolwork, with almost half expressing concerns that their critical thinking abilities have suffered as a result. For many students, turning to AI has become their default approach when faced with a new assignment, foregoing the traditional practice of drafting their work independently.
Rob Clayton, Partner and National Education Practice Leader for KPMG in Canada, emphasized the importance of nurturing critical thinking skills in higher education. He underscored the need to integrate AI literacy into curricula to empower students to leverage AI tools for enhancing analytical abilities rather than hindering them.
While AI usage has shown to improve grades for seven in 10 students, a significant portion still feel uneasy about the overreliance on AI, equating it to cheating. Concerns about genuine learning and knowledge retention persist among students despite the academic performance boost.
The report advocates for educational institutions to address these challenges by offering courses on ethical and safe AI usage, as indicated by nearly 80 per cent of students who expressed a desire for such programs. Clayton suggested a shift towards more interactive teaching methods, such as oral presentations and class discussions, to foster critical thinking and ensure genuine learning experiences.
The survey revealed that students commonly use AI tools for research, idea generation, assignment editing, and information summarization. Additionally, a substantial number of students rely on generative AI for creating and refining their resumes, highlighting the pervasive nature of AI integration in academic and professional settings.