"Child caught using ChatGPT for homework, receives zero grade."
This news exploded in parent group chats. Some supported the teacher's decision; others felt the school was too conservative. But what's truly worth reflecting on is: why do children only know how to use AI to "copy homework"? Is it AI's fault, or are we using it wrong?
Wharton School professor Ethan Mollick offers a key insight in his latest research: AI's problem isn't AI itself, but how we use AI. When you treat AI as an "answer machine," it will destroy learning; when you treat AI as a "thinking partner," it will illuminate learning.
Today, we're sharing a proven "AI Learning Method" to help parents and children use AI tools correctly.
Why Is "Copy Homework Style" AI Usage a Dead End?
The latest cognitive load research reveals a surprising finding: when students use AI through chatbot interfaces, they may actually increase rather than decrease cognitive burden.
A study of financial professionals found that when AI presents information in "large blocks of text," users are often overwhelmed, actually reducing understanding and memory retention. The more "helpfully" AI provides additional information, the more confused users become. This "cognitive tax" is particularly pronounced in less capable learners.
In other words, if a child just asks AI to "give me the answer," they may save time on the surface, but actually:
- Don't experience the thinking process, so knowledge isn't truly internalized
- Get overwhelmed by AI's massive output, becoming more confused
- Get used to "reaching out for answers," causing independent learning ability to regress
Case Studies: What Does Correct AI Learning Look Like?
Case One: Khan Academy's Khanmigo Model
Khan Academy's AI tutor Khanmigo uses a "Socratic dialogue" approach. When a student asks "What's the answer to this question?", Khanmigo doesn't answer directly but responds: "What do you think the first step should be? Why?"
Through a series of guiding questions, students ultimately find the answer themselves. Khan Academy's research shows that under this model, student learning outcomes are significantly better than directly receiving answers.
MIT Media Lab's Lifelong Kindergarten research group proposes that the best AI learning is "creative learning." They encourage children to:
- Compose music with AI
- Design games with AI
- Generate stories with AI
In this process, AI is a creative tool, but children must understand principles, make decisions, and iterate. Real learning happens during the creative process.
Case Three: ISTE's AI Literacy Framework
The International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) proposes four dimensions of AI literacy education:
- Understanding AI Principles: Know how AI works
- Critical Usage: Evaluate the reliability of AI outputs
- Creative Application: Use AI to solve real problems
- Ethical Awareness: Understand AI's limitations and risks
Smart Parents' Five-Step "AI Learning Method"
Step One: Establish AI Usage Rules
Create clear AI usage rules at home:
- ✅ Acceptable AI use: Understanding concepts, exploring approaches, checking homework
- ❌ Prohibited AI use: Directly copying answers, replacing thinking, skipping learning process
According to Mollick's analysis, when choosing AI tools, consider three dimensions of "Model + App + Harness":
- Model: Choose advanced models (like GPT-5 Thinking, Claude Opus) for higher accuracy
- App: Choose apps with "learning modes" like Khanmigo, NotebookLM
- Harness: Choose tools that can "execute tasks" rather than just "chat"
Step Three: Guide Correct Questioning Methods
Teach children "how to ask AI":
- ❌ Wrong approach: "Write an essay for me"
- ✅ Right approach: "I want to write an essay about environmental protection. Please help me list five possible angles and explain the advantages of each."
Step Four: Design "AI + Creation" Learning Projects
Rather than preventing children from using AI, let them use AI in creation:
- Have children design an educational game with AI
- Have children compose a song about a historical event with AI
- Have children create a visual presentation of a scientific concept with AI
Step Five: Cultivate AI Critical Thinking
Teach children to evaluate AI outputs:
- Is this answer reasonable?
- Are there other possible answers?
- How can I verify the correctness of this answer?
Conclusion
AI won't destroy education; wrong usage will.
As parents, our task isn't to prohibit children from accessing AI—this is neither realistic nor responsible in the AI era. Our task is to teach them to use AI correctly: treating AI as a thinking partner rather than an answer machine, treating AI as a creative tool rather than a lazy shortcut.
Remember: Future competition isn't about "whether you can use AI," but "whether you can use AI correctly."
Start today: create AI learning rules with your child, choose the right AI tools, design creative AI learning projects. This is the smart move for smart parents.
💡 For more insights on AI in education, visit XuePilot
