AI adoption splits Australia's education system amid critical thinking concerns

Andrew Hill, CEO of Steiner Education Australia, has stated the alternative school system will not create its own artificial intelligence (AI) learning tools for teachers and students. This decision comes as generative AI tools are being developed for public schools in New South Wales, South Australia, and Queensland, but concerns about the technology's impact on critical thinking are escalating.

"Anything which is going to compromise healthy growth of the brain, we would take a cautionary view towards," Hill said. Supporters argue AI can reduce teacher workloads and help senior students study more effectively. However, early research suggests over-reliance on AI may diminish independent problem-solving and critical thinking skills.

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Anything which is going to compromise healthy growth of the brain, we would take a cautionary view towards.

In response to these concerns, the NSW government is considering a ban on take-home assessments as part of a broader review into AI's educational impact. Data from the OECD indicates that two-thirds of Australian teachers have experimented with AI, placing Australia fourth among the organization's 38 member countries in AI usage by educators.

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I used it a bit last year to create things to read from, like an example paragraph to practise reading. And then I noticed it has that AI voice. I really started to notice it, and I thought 'this isn't great', I don't want kids to learn how to read through this really sterile way of using language.

Some teachers, like Mark*, a primary school teacher in south-east Queensland, have reduced their AI use. He found AI-generated content had a "cold, lifeless feel" and a distinct "AI voice" that he did not want students to learn from. Similarly, Lauren*, an English and humanities teacher, expressed reluctance to model technology that might hinder students' ability to think for themselves, questioning the purpose of teaching critical thinking if it's outsourced to computers.

Student anxieties are also rising, with some protesting outside a new data center construction site on the Sunshine Coast in June. These students cited concerns about environmental impacts and the potential for diminishing future job prospects. In Queensland, the Department of Education offers a generative AI tool called Corella for students in years 7-10, though parental consent is required.

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I teach English and the humanities, those subjects exist to teach critical thinking skills. If we're outsourcing that to computers then what are we doing?