ed into the impacts of artificial intelligence on students’ school life. It seems that we are not only seeing the detrimental effects of AI overuse on their growing minds, but also on their futures.
As you may already know, Curtis has the International Baccalaureate Diploma Program, or the IBDP for short. Starting junior year, it’s a two-year small learning community, filled with rigorous classes. In 2023, 36 seniors graduated with an IB diploma, which is around the average number of students who earn it each year, but here’s where things get interesting. In 2024, only 15 people graduated with the IB diploma, making it the lowest number of IB diplomas Curtis has awarded since the implementation of the IB program.
Many wonder what caused this drastic decline in IB Diploma holders, as it decreased by more than half in only a year. My guess? AI. Even though advanced models such as ChatGPT only gained popularity around the middle of 2023, I feel it didn’t have enough time to affect people’s performances on the IB exams, in part due to the students not knowing about AI yet. However, when 2024 came around, it’s likely that AI had more of an effect on students. The fresh start allowed many students to use AI from the beginning to the end of the school year. As AI has gained popularity in classrooms students’ grades became lower, leading to less people passing the IB tests and receiving the diploma. I’m not saying that correlation equals causation, but there has never been a number of diploma holders as low as now, almost right after AI came into the picture.
IB Psychology teacher Ms. Rokicki believes that AI now plays a crucial role in a student’s performance. “AI has become a significant problem for many students. Students that use AI have become reliant on the technology and are not developing the critical thinking skills needed to succeed at a higher level,” she explained. She also described her experience with a student’s use of AI. “Some students do not even make an attempt to complete an assignment without using AI. I once received a request from a former student to write a college recommendation. The request was written using AI. This problem is so prevalent in the IB Program that many teachers are discussing strategies to identify AI and prevent its use.” She noted that students are depriving themselves of the chance.
“The diploma results also reflect a lack of work by the students. The IB program is truly special. Most IB schools, which are private, charge a significant amount of money, whereas we offer the same quality for free. I hope that students will be more inspired to strive to earn the diploma. It is actually more attainable than many students believe.”
Ms. Guash, the IB Sports Exercise and science teacher, considers AI less of a problem when you consider other factors. “It’s a total social media and phone distraction. There’s been a disintegration between virtual world and real world, and unfortunately the IB program is more interested in the real world. I think this is happening now because the excitement of being in school went away. I believe social media has been causing a lack of engagement and desire from students to actually participate in lessons and do their work.” She continued to elaborate on her opinion about AI. “It’s definitely possible that AI has at least a minor contribution in preventing students from getting a diploma. I’m not against AI, I think it’s good if you use it to help you, but you shouldn’t be solely relying on it. “
How big of a part do you think AI plays in the number of IB Diplomas awarded? We’d like to hear your opinion.
