Many Americans are hesitant about using artificial intelligence technology from kindergarten to high school. Support for some common applications of AI has declined since last year, according to the latest PDK polls on American attitudes towards public education..
For parents, substantial data privacy is particularly concerning for parents, a subset of survey respondents. Seven in 10 parent respondents said they did not support providing AI software access to student performance, rating data or other personal information.
Jonathan E. Collins, an assistant professor of political science and education at Columbia University Teachers College, said this is important for AI adoption in schools, as public opinion often shapes how new technologies are implemented in the classroom. Skepticism about AI is not surprising, but he said whether it will change depends heavily on the actions of policymakers, school leaders and AI companies.
“Every time there's a big technological change, there's a general doubt before we proceed with implementation and integration,” he said. “The biggest problem with AI is how to get the right version to put GuardRails in place. To increase the likelihood that guardrails are needed, it needs to increase the chances that we can help in a positive way.
All negative headlines about AI doing AMOK can set public opinion backwards, Collins said.
This is the 57th Annual PDK Poll on American Attitudes to Public Education. This year's poll was conducted by the Civic Guidance Center at the Wason Center at Christopher Newport University, while previous PDK polls were conducted by Gallup. The study, conducted from June 21 to 30, included a random, nationally representative sample of 1,005 adults.
The attitude towards AI in education is uncertain
The vote also asked about the possibility that AI would use in the classroom, with all rebels, adults with grown children, or no children at all. Americans have particularly soured the teacher's idea of using AI to prepare lesson plans, polls found. Support for its use has dropped from 62% last year to 49% this year.
The least popular use of AI is to enable students to use technology to prepare their homework. 38% of respondents supported this use case this year, compared to 43% last year. However, AI tools continue to evolve in this respect.
ChatGPT has released a new “Study Mode” feature It is designed during the summer, designed to coach users through procedures to find the answer rather than simply giving it. Openai, the company that created ChatGpt, said this was the first step to ensure that students are learning when they use the app.
Individualized tutoring remains the most widely accepted use of AI in schools, with 60% supporting interactive AI tutor tools, but that number has slipped from 65% last year.
However, many respondents' sentiment on these topics was not strong, Collins said. The majority of responses were divided into “strong” and “strong” categories that supported or opposed these cases.
That shows that people's attitudes can change, Collins said. Therefore, it is important for education leaders who have plans to integrate AI into instruction. They are actively working on how to communicate those plans to their parents.
“What we need is, “Here is a safe AI use plan in schools. How this will benefit students. [and] Teacher, this is something we stand to acquire,” he said. Is there a clear personal benefit to me as a parent by having my child at this school that uses AI?
One area of strong consensus among poll respondents is whether schools should educate students about technologies such as AI and responsible social media use. Six in ten people said it was very important, and a quarter said it was somewhat important.
Adult opinions can affect schools' fair access to AI
Despite public skepticism, the momentum behind AI in education is growing, with a strong drive from the top level of government. President Donald Trump signed the executive order In April, the aim is to integrate AI across K-12 education..
The US Department of Education also announced Moving AI forward in July will be a priority for future grant funding.
Meanwhile, education technology companies are investing heavily in tools powered by AI, from AI teacher assistants to personalized tutoring tools for adaptive students.
Other votes show teachers are adopting technology rapidly To create a worksheet, plan your lesson, create student feedback, and respond to emails.
Teachers are one of the experts who are trying to benefit most from AI, according to Collins.
AI can help you improve non-labor-based productivity, such as analyzing data, organizing thoughts, and creating images.
“AI is not going to help you become a better barber,” he said. “There's stratification [we’re] Already worried: AI is great for people in the higher socioeconomic section of our society. ”
Collins said those who don't use AI in their daily lives may remain skeptical of technology, and their opinions could have an impact on local schools either prioritizing or embarrassingly integrating AI into classrooms.
“That's a real concern for me when I see the split in public opinion. Will this lead to uneven implementations? He said, “When there is uneven implementation of education technology, it usually benefits children who come from wealthy families.”
