👾 Stat of the Day: Chatbots or Cheatbots?

Save an uncomfortable desk seat: a new student is present in American classrooms, whether teachers like it or not.

~40% of middle and high school students who report using AI to complete assignments say they do so without their teachers’ permission, according to a 2024 survey by Impact Research. The rate is closer to 50% in college students, with AI chatbots frequently used by undergrads to help write papers, according to an internal analysis published by OpenAI.

Two schools of AI thought: Many teachers worry artificial intelligence use prevents students from actively learning and developing critical thinking skills. Rapid advances in the technology have also made it difficult for educators to detect if it's present in students’ work at all.

On the other hand, some academics argue the use of AI is not a major problem, and that it should be integrated into lessons moving forward—even suggesting that critical thinking and communication skills should be measured by a student’s ability to competently use AI.

🤔 Did You Know? Nine-banded armadillos, the only species of armadillo found in the US, almost always give birth to identical quadruplets of the same sex. This is because females produce a single egg that, once fertilized, splits into four genetically identical embryos.

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