Technology is now part of our life, ChatGPT is among the best «friends», and any problem can be solved with just a few clicks. But what do we do when all this technological and informational avalanche comes to us and with negative effects? Today, almost half of the young people between the ages of 12 and 17 use artificial intelligence, and over 30% of them use technology to do their homework, according to the OECD report – Digital Education Outlook 2026, carried out in seven European countries, including Romania. OECD experts say that too much outsourcing of the thinking process to artificial intelligence can reduce engagement. «Overreliance on generative artificial intelligence tools that provide direct answers can reduce active student engagement, improving task performance without corresponding gains in learning,» according to the official conclusions of the OECD report. But how can young people prepare for this digital age that they already live in? In a context where the digital footprint of the new generation is becoming more and more extensive and difficult to control, the question is no longer whether they will be exposed, but how prepared they are. Jessica Joelle Alexander, co-founder of the Raising Digital Citizens platform, who will be present at the ParentED Fest event, dedicated to the new generations and their parents, brings to Romania one of the most important topics of the moment: preparing for a digital world in which young people enter long before they have internal protection tools. «We cannot prepare children for the digital world only by controlling technology. We must prepare them from the inside: to think critically, to feel empathetic and to have the courage to say no when something is not right. Talking together about values in the online world and building a bond based on trust, not fear, is one of the best long-term investments a family can make for the safety of a child,» she said in a press release. When learning outside of school and not being instructed by teachers, according to data analyzed by ParentED Fest, 56% of students use artificial intelligence to obtain useful information in individual study. Also, 45% of young people use applications to request detailed explanations of terms and concepts, and almost 30% of students look for interactive and adaptive content to guide them throughout the entire learning experience. Only 20% of students use technology for structuring and planning, with the aim of creating a personalized learning plan and monitoring their own progress. The OECD report also highlights the role of teachers in a world where AI is becoming more and more accessible. In 2024, almost 40% of secondary school teachers will use artificial intelligence in their professional activity. Also, more than half of secondary school teachers agree that artificial intelligence helps to develop or improve lesson plans. At the same time, 72% of teachers believe that artificial intelligence can affect academic integrity, allowing students to present work as their own.
For other news, analyses, articles and business information in real time, follow NV on WhatsApp Channels