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I don't think they need to learn 'AI workflows' (whatever that means). But I think it makes sense to use the LLM's as a resource. I've used them when studying

I don't think they need to learn 'AI workflows' (whatever that means). But I think it makes sense to use the LLM's as a resource. I've used them when studying new languages (human languages not programming languages) and ML algorithms and they've been really useful. Learning to check the citations it gives you is a useful skill too. I wish many adults were more sceptical about the things they are told.

Gigachad 7mo ago
It's true that you can use LLMs as a learning resource and to unblock you. But students just aren't. They are using them as a way to avoid thinking, avoid research, and just spit out an answer they can paste in to their homework.
- jjgreen 7mo ago
  They should at least require handwritten work, the kids will still be AI-stupid but will at least be able to write.
  - actionfromafar 7mo ago
    You remember better when you write, too.
- mike50 6mo ago
  Because the students learned that school is designed by old morons, without understating why writing book reports and doing math drills has the intent of creating students that can read and write or learn other transferable skills.
TheOtherHobbes 7mo ago
I assume "AI workflows" means knowing how to split up a task to create a chain of agents that can complete a specific task reliably. A bit like software development.
- MengerSponge 7mo ago
  The problem is that the task you've defined "split up a task to create a chain of agents" has changed dramatically in just the last six months, nevermind the last two years. You're wasting effort and teaching an obsolete technology if you try to make primary/secondary education too topical. Students can learn how to decompose a task and how to think critically without ever touching a Large Language Model.
  - coffeefirst 7mo ago
    Also when the subsidies go away it will be prohibitively expensive for most businesses, and is probably already too expensive for schools.
    - MengerSponge 7mo ago
      A lot of software products are heavily subsidized for university students because that yields lock-in when they go and get hired. (Solidworks, Matlab, GitHub) Primary schoolers will probably get priced out, and not a day too soon!
      - coffeefirst 6mo ago
        Probably. But the difference is the marginal cost of selling an Adobe CS license, Avid Media Composer, or the other costly software I bought at a steep discount is pretty much nothing. When you discount inference you lose money. Pulling the plug on K-12 on the other hand, seriously, can’t happen fast enough.
        MengerSponge 6mo ago
        True! But Adobe gives cloud compute and some gen AI credits with their edu license. Autodesk does too! They both lose money on that proposition, but clearly not thousands or tens of thousands of dollars per user.

Gigachad 7mo ago

It's true that you can use LLMs as a learning resource and to unblock you. But students just aren't. They are using them as a way to avoid thinking, avoid research, and just spit out an answer they can paste in to their homework.

jjgreen 7mo ago
They should at least require handwritten work, the kids will still be AI-stupid but will at least be able to write.
- actionfromafar 7mo ago
  You remember better when you write, too.
mike50 6mo ago
Because the students learned that school is designed by old morons, without understating why writing book reports and doing math drills has the intent of creating students that can read and write or learn other transferable skills.

TheOtherHobbes 7mo ago

I assume "AI workflows" means knowing how to split up a task to create a chain of agents that can complete a specific task reliably. A bit like software development.

MengerSponge 7mo ago
The problem is that the task you've defined "split up a task to create a chain of agents" has changed dramatically in just the last six months, nevermind the last two years. You're wasting effort and teaching an obsolete technology if you try to make primary/secondary education too topical. Students can learn how to decompose a task and how to think critically without ever touching a Large Language Model.
- coffeefirst 7mo ago
  Also when the subsidies go away it will be prohibitively expensive for most businesses, and is probably already too expensive for schools.
  - MengerSponge 7mo ago
    A lot of software products are heavily subsidized for university students because that yields lock-in when they go and get hired. (Solidworks, Matlab, GitHub) Primary schoolers will probably get priced out, and not a day too soon!
    - coffeefirst 6mo ago
      Probably. But the difference is the marginal cost of selling an Adobe CS license, Avid Media Composer, or the other costly software I bought at a steep discount is pretty much nothing. When you discount inference you lose money. Pulling the plug on K-12 on the other hand, seriously, can’t happen fast enough.
      - MengerSponge 6mo ago
        True! But Adobe gives cloud compute and some gen AI credits with their edu license. Autodesk does too! They both lose money on that proposition, but clearly not thousands or tens of thousands of dollars per user.