By: Conny Welén

AI in school opens new possibilities to learn, create and explore – for both students and teachers. At the same time, research shows that how the technology is used plays a major role: when AI is used incorrectly, it can affect student engagement and independent thinking. Therefore, the technology should function as support in learning, not as a replacement for the teacher. In the future school, where AI becomes a natural part of the classroom, we need to use AI consciously, pedagogically, and not least – in a balanced way. So the question is not if we should use AI in school, but how.

From teacher to learning – a new power balance

Imagine a school day where AI and learning go hand in hand and where every student has a personal AI tutor in mathematics. A digital mentor who never loses patience, always has time and can explain the same thing in several different ways until the student understands. The AI tutor can even teach in multiple languages in real time. Newly arrived students can receive instructions in their native language while learning Swedish mathematical concepts. This creates a more inclusive school and lowers the language barrier. This AI tutor also gets to know each student’s strengths and weaknesses and can adapt the learning for maximum progress. It sounds futuristic, but the core technologies for this “Digital Education 2.0” actually already exist.

With the AI tutor, both oral and written feedback become instant. The student receives answers and a personal review of a test in seconds: in text, with pedagogical images, read aloud in different languages, and with the possibility to discuss directly with their personal assistant.

And the possibilities do not end there. When AI becomes a natural part of the student’s studies, interaction between teacher and student becomes faster, understanding increases, and there is a feeling of constant development – even after class time. Some students may accelerate extremely fast and steer their own pace. This gives huge opportunities for students to raise their results, without being fully dependent on the physical teacher in the classroom or parents who can help at home.

“Certified AI services can eventually show exactly which knowledge, strengths and weaknesses students have – reducing stress and grade competition, and shifting the focus back to actual learning.”

AI as support, not as replacement

But this development is not without problems. AI can give us fantastic possibilities – but it can also undermine some of the most fundamental parts of learning. Studies show that students who use AI too extensively risk poorer memory, less cognitive engagement and a reduced ability for critical thinking.

A larger study of more than 200 students shows that decision-making worsens by almost 30%, especially among boys, when AI is used as the primary source of knowledge. Brain research indicates that excessive use of generative language models in writing may create what researchers call “cognitive debt”, meaning that the brain’s language and analytical ability develops slower when we allow AI assistants to think for us. To avoid this, AI should be used as support in the learning process, not as a replacement for the student’s own thinking.

AI in school also changes assessment and grading. Traditional exams and grades risk losing value when AI support becomes standard. The solution is continuous assessment, where the student’s process, reflection and reasoning weigh just as much as the end result, rather than the result on one or several tests. Certified AI services can eventually show exactly which knowledge, strengths and weaknesses each student has, which reduces test stress and removes the following grade competition – shifting the focus back to actual learning.

“When every student gets access to the same type of advanced help, regardless of whether they have parents who can support them at home or not, the gaps shrink and learning becomes democratized.”

Re-evaluation of abilities

When all students get access to the same type of advanced help, regardless of home support, gaps shrink and learning is democratized. When AI can deliver correct answers and pedagogical explanations, the school’s focus needs to shift. Mathematics teachers must relate both to students’ AI assistants and their own AI tools that can create assignments, mark tests and analyze results. In an AI-driven future, problem solving, creativity, critical thinking and collaboration will therefore become the most in-demand skills.

Frequently asked questions (FAQ)

How does AI affect students’ learning and independence?
AI strengthens individual learning through personal feedback and guidance, but requires that students still reflect, process and think themselves to develop critical thinking.

Will AI replace the teacher in the school of the future?
No, AI functions as pedagogical support and as a teacher assistant. The teacher becomes a mentor and guide, while AI frees time for personal feedback, work with motivation and individual instruction. The teacher will still be a central figure in the classroom who leads discussions and guides students in their learning.

Can AI help multilingual students in the classroom?
Yes. AI-based translation enables real-time understanding of instructions and mathematical concepts in several languages, making teaching more inclusive.

What risks exist with using AI in teaching?
Overuse can reduce memory, cognitive engagement and critical thinking. AI must be used as support, not a replacement for the student’s own thinking. It’s the teacher’s responsibility to ensure AI is used in a way that stimulates learning.

Can students cheat with AI?
Yes. With classic assignments and tests, students can use generative AI to cheat. This is likely a transitional problem, before teaching adapts and we have systems where AI is used for continuous assessment. Therefore teachers and school leaders need to actively consider how AI should be used – so that it actually strengthens learning.

So, how do we find the balance for AI in school?

To maximize learning we need to use AI consciously, pedagogically and not least – in a balanced way:
1. Teach students to review AI’s answers. They need to understand concepts such as bias and hallucination, and be able to judge what is reliable or not.

2. Teach students to use AI as support to strengthen critical thinking. Let AI provide feedback, help with structure or ideas, but ensure the core learning – the thinking – happens in the student.

3. Strengthen the teacher’s role. The teacher becomes even more important as guide – the one who helps students reflect on the process and support learning, but also to help the student understand what AI actually does and how it works. The human interaction can’t be replaced.

4. Also design tasks that AI can’t do. Tasks that require nuance, empathy, creativity and human judgement will be important to complement AI.

5. Track students’ cognitive development and adjust AI use if needed. Regular evaluations can reveal if AI use begins to negatively affect thinking.

To summarize: AI will not replace the teacher, but it will fundamentally change mathematics teaching. Teachers who combine AI’s power with human wisdom prepare students for the future – and take the lead in shaping the school of tomorrow.

Want help taking the next step with AI in the school of the future?
Contact us for advice on pedagogical AI in teaching.

Conny Welén, the author behind Matematik XYZ, is involved in developing Mathleaks 360.