Lebanon students in the era of artificial intelligence: Did they become victims of technology?

Let’s start with the story of a Lebanese student, Karim, who lives in a suburb of Beirut. Karim is an eighth grade student, and he recently started using artificial intelligence applications to help him in his school duties. Initially, it seemed a great opportunity to facilitate his academic life, as he could get quick answers to mathematics problems or summaries of textbooks with one click of a button. But with the passage of time, he began to feel that these applications take something important from him: the ability to think critical and solve problems himself.

To shed light on this phenomenon, “Lebanon 24” has interviewed an educational technology specialist, who talked about the impact of artificial intelligence on education and how it could negatively affect students’ skills. He said, “Excessive dependence on artificial intelligence may reduce students’ ability to think independent and make decisions. Today, many students use these tools as an alternative to actual learning, which may negatively affect their academic achievement.”

He pointed out that there is an increasing educational gap among students who can reach technology and who cannot. This can exacerbate social and economic differences in Lebanese society.

He suggested some possible solutions to deal with this phenomenon, such as promoting projects based on projects and developing students’ critical thinking skills. He also called for the need to educate parents and teachers on how to use technology positively.

The Karim experience is not unique. Rather, it reflects the reality of many children in Lebanon who find themselves stuck between the benefits and necessity of technology and the risk of relying on it excessively. There must be a balance between the use of artificial intelligence and the teaching of basic skills to ensure a bright academic future for children.