Embracing AI in Education: Understanding the Surge in Large Language Model Use by Secondary Students

TL;DR

The paper investigates the prevalence and patterns of secondary student use of large language models (LLMs) in the United States via a cross-sectional survey of about 306 students across 43 states. It finds widespread usage ($70\%$) across grades 7–12 and multiple subjects, with a substantial portion noting benefits in writing but concerns about inaccuracies and reasoning, all under varying school policies. The authors argue for education-focused LLM design, including subject-specific fine-tuning, AI tutors, and AI classrooms to enhance learning while mitigating risks and addressing equity in access. These insights aim to guide educators and developers toward responsible LLM integration that supports underserved learners and informs policy and curriculum development.

Abstract

The impressive essay writing and problem-solving capabilities of large language models (LLMs) like OpenAI's ChatGPT have opened up new avenues in education. Our goal is to gain insights into the widespread use of LLMs among secondary students to inform their future development. Despite school restrictions, our survey of over 300 middle and high school students revealed that a remarkable 70% of students have utilized LLMs, higher than the usage percentage among young adults, and this percentage remains consistent across 7th to 12th grade. Students also reported using LLMs for multiple subjects, including language arts, history, and math assignments, but expressed mixed thoughts on their effectiveness due to occasional hallucinations in historical contexts and incorrect answers for lack of rigorous reasoning. The survey feedback called for LLMs better adapted for students, and also raised questions to developers and educators on how to help students from underserved communities leverage LLMs' capabilities for equal access to advanced education resources. We propose a few ideas to address such issues, including subject-specific models, personalized learning, and AI classrooms.

Figures (5)

• Figure 1: LLM usage remained consistent among 7th-12th graders.
• Figure 2: We received responses from students in 43 states.
• Figure 3: Over 70% of students have used LLMs.
• Figure 4: LLMs are used in all school subjects.
• Figure 5: LLM usage persists despite ethical concerns.