Challenges and Opportunities of AI in Educational Equity:
MIS Teachers & Students Explore Future Educational Innovations
Recently, our MIS Chinese class held a debate on the topic of "Whether using AI tools in assignments is fair?" Students deepened their thinking through discussion, while teachers explored the boundaries of AI from the perspective of educational goals. Below is a summary of their viewpoints, along with practical suggestions:
Student Perspective:
AI Tools are double-edged swords
Student’ opinions can be categorized into the following four groups, the nature of AI tools, rules & guidelines, skill development, and the reconstruction of evaluation systems:
Nature of AI tools (Li,AP student)
Core opinion: The essence of AI is that it is a tool, and the key lies in regulating its use rather than rejecting it. Just like calculators and dictionaries, AI can enhance efficiency, but over-reliance may weaken independent thinking.
Suggestion: Educate students to use AI as an auxiliary tool, for example, with math homework, you can use AI to help with problem-solving approaches rather than just giving you the final results.
Rules & Guidelines (Helen,RM student)
Core opinion: AI can be a fair aid if it is accessible to all students, and everybody follows the school guidelines.
Risk: Unequal access to resources may exacerbate educational imbalance, and over-reliance needs to be constrained by rules.
Competence Development(Yan,Y13 student)
Core opinion: Reasonable use of AI can expand the breadth of thinking, but we need to be wary of directly copying content.
Suggestion: Schools should develop norms for use and strengthen students' ability to filter and analyse information that AI provides.
Evaluation Reconstruction(William,RM student)
Core opinion: Educational evaluation needs to shift from ‘brainpower competition’ to ‘resource integration ability’.
Case: Drawing on Stanford University's ‘human-computer collaboration log’, establish a classification management mechanism (e.g., distinguishing between ‘auxiliary’ and ‘generative’ AI) and ensure transparency of the rules of use.
Teachers' perspectives:
Educational goals determine
the boundaries of the use of AI tools
Teachers’ opinions can be categorized into three groups, Positive, Neutral and Negative:
Bonnie, Chinese Teacher:
I believe that AI tools should be used because we are now in the era of AI, and education and learning must keep up with the times. Students should also be exposed to AI and learn how to use it to enhance their learning.
Katie, Humanities teacher:
Yes - I think so long as the student has clearly disclosed the use of AI in their answer and created a bibliography style div to demonstrate how it was used.
Sophie, Chinese Teacher:
If this assignment is aimed at developing their ability to use AI tools then it is reasonable. Or if this AI tool is open to everyone involved in the assignment, then it should be considered as a fair competition.
Simon, Head of Humanities:
Yes, whether we like it or not, technology is a part our lives. I think it should be used to improve our assignments but at the same time we need to restructure our criteria as well as teach students to reference AI correctly.
Fred, Head of Performing Arts:
Depends, if using technology tools is part of the lesson objectives and design, then should be fine.
Hannah, Chinese teacher:
AI is an efficient learning aid and represents a future trend. Instead of worrying about its drawbacks, it is better to focus on how to use it correctly and avoid risks.
Rosella, Chinese Teacher:
It depends on the nature and requirements of the task. If the task aims to test students' understanding of the material and their ability to think independently, then using AI tools may not be fair, as it may provide ready-made answers and deprive students of the opportunity to think independently. However, if the goal of the task is to assess students' ability to complete complex tasks by using tools, then the use of AI tools may be appropriate.
Ben, Head of Upper Senior:
Summative assessment can continue under times conditions in class. AI can be used to support research and preparation.
Joseph Cui,
Technology Partner at Microsoft,
Researcher at Ant Group’s Financial Services
Chairman of Tencent's R&D Effectiveness Committee
He provided his key insights in his MIS Lecture---
Blueprint for Future Education in the Age of AI:
The explosive growth of AI technology (e.g., DeepSeek's 30 million+ users) raises ethical, legal and resource allocation issues.
The next generation will need to be equipped with ‘human-machine’ capabilities, including the ability to sift through data, integrate innovation and make ethical judgements.
Recommendations for action:
Educators need to redefine core literacy to prepare future leaders for the AI era.
Towards a new paradigm of equity and innovation in education.
The application of AI tools is irreversible and its equity depends on a combination of three elements:
Rule & Guidelines: classification management (e.g. assistive vs. generative AI), and transparent criteria;
Educational goal adaptation: dynamic adjustment of AI usage limit according to the nature of the task;
Student self-discipline: strengthening independent thinking and ethical awareness through systematic training.
History tells us that tool innovations (e.g., abacuses, search engines) eventually give rise to more progressive norms of fairness. The mission of educators is to guide students to make the leap to ‘harmonious coexistence between human and AI’ and to ensure the effectiveness of the measures taken through regular evaluations. Only then can AI become a catalyst for equity and innovation in education, rather than a ‘destroyer’ of equity.
