ChatGPT and young learners
Should you promote the use of Chat GPT for homework tasks and learning?
Recent studies suggest that ChatGPT can be used as an effective tool to aid learning. A 2025 meta data analysis of 69 articles published on student learning concluded that the use of ChatGPT boosts motivation, reduces mental effort and enhances academic performance. So should you let your learners use ChatGPT freely?
Interestingly, the outcomes of ChatGPTs use may be more complex. A discussion with Dr Steve Watson from the Faculty of Education at Cambridge University, highlighted the importance of using ChatGPT in a targeted way, for specific tasks such as exam preparation and finding exam questions by topic, or providing writing assistance. However there are risks of being provided misinformation, and by the nature of the manner information is provided, a risk of students never learning and practicing their own analytical and higher order thinking propensities.
This is something I have seen increasingly with learners who rely on ChatGPT. When provided with information that is already filleted, processed and presented in a way that can be copy pasted into an answer, students don’t learn the importance of doing their own research. They don’t formulating their own ideas, and aren’t practicing being able to expand the scope of their problem solving. For example, they are unlikely to read whole articles, and be exposed to any alternative viewpoints, or other avenues of interest. This processing of information leads to greater recall and a deeper understanding of a topic. A skill that is useful throughout life.
Worryingly, a 2025 study from MIT’s Media Lab concluded in a comparison of the use of ChatGPT, traditional search engines and no external help, that ChatGPT use had the lowest brain engagement, students showed the worst recall, and built a ‘cognitive debt’. The short term gain and ease of completing the task at hand incurred a long term loss in memory and critical thinking. Students may see the short term benefits during homework tasks and practice, but score lower later on when ChatGPT isn’t available and they are tested on underlying concepts.
So should students use ChatGPT? Personally, I feel it's use needs to be tailored to the task at hand and to a students needs and abilities. As a tool to retrieve facts, practice simpler tasks, and aid consolidation, it appears to be very useful. It can help save time and reduce pressure. However for more complex learning, and understanding of the underlying principles or nuances of multi step concepts, it should maybe only used as a launching point. The limitations need to be understood by the user for it to be used effectively. It might be the case that until we have a better idea of how ChatGPTs use effects long term learning we keep in mind that it is an aid to teaching, not a replacement. Learners need to be aware of the benefits and pitfalls of its use and be taught how to use ChatGPT effectively.
As the old adage states, Hard Work gets results. Easy, quick and convenient isn’t always the best way to learn.
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