Artificial intelligence is quickly becoming part of everyday classroom life.

But I think we’re asking the wrong question.

The conversation keeps centering around:
Should students be using AI or not?

And after this conversation with Aron Boxer, I don’t actually think that’s the most important question anymore.

Because students using AI?

That’s not the real story.

The real story is what their use of AI is revealing about how school currently works.

Why Are Students Using AI So Quickly?

One of the first things we dug into in this episode is how fast AI adoption has happened with students.

And honestly… it’s not surprising.

Students have always looked for ways to:

• Save time
• Reduce effort
• Get unstuck quickly

AI just makes that easier than ever.

And as Aron pointed out, it’s not always about cheating.

Sometimes, it’s adaptation.

Sometimes, it’s:
“I don’t understand this.”
“I’m overwhelmed.”
“I just need to get this done.”

That doesn’t mean the behavior is helping their learning, but it does mean we need to look deeper than just labeling it.

Cheating… or a Symptom of Something Bigger?

This is where the conversation really started to shift.

Because when students consistently turn to AI to do the thinking for them, it raises a bigger question:

What is it about school that’s making that the easier or more appealing option?

AI is exposing things like:

• Overemphasis on completion over understanding
• Systems that reward answers more than reasoning
• Tasks that can be easily replicated or bypassed

And when that’s the case… of course students are going to find the fastest way through.

That’s not a technology problem.

That’s a design problem.

Why Banning AI Isn’t the Solution

I know a lot of schools are responding with restrictions, detectors, and policies trying to control AI use.

And I get it.

But Aron said something that really stuck with me:

You can’t ban your way out of a shift this big.

AI is here. It’s accessible. It’s not going anywhere.

So if the main strategy is policing it… we’re missing the opportunity to actually teach students how to use it well.

Because the goal isn’t avoidance.

The goal is responsible, intentional use.

When Information Isn’t Scarce Anymore

This is the part that I think changes everything for us as educators.

We’re no longer in a world where access to information is the challenge.

Students can:

• Look things up instantly
• Generate explanations
• Get step-by-step solutions

So if that’s true…

What skills actually matter now?

In our conversation, we kept coming back to things like:

• Critical thinking
• Reasoning
• Spotting errors
• Explaining why something works
• Decision-making
• Self-regulation

Because that’s the work AI can’t do for them.

What This Means for Math Classrooms

For math teachers especially, this creates a really important shift.

If students can generate answers instantly…

Then answers can’t be the goal anymore.

We have to design learning experiences that prioritize:

• Problem solving
• Sense-making
• Productive struggle
• Explaining thinking

Because those are the moments where real learning happens.

And those are the moments AI can’t replace.

The Human Element Matters More Than Ever

If there’s one thing this conversation made incredibly clear, it’s this:

The more technology we introduce, the more important human connection becomes.

Not less.

More.

Because learning doesn’t happen just from access to information.

It happens through:

• Relationships
• Collaboration
• Conversation
• Shared thinking

AI can support parts of the process.

But it can’t replace what happens when students:

• Work through confusion together
• Ask follow-up questions
• Explain their thinking out loud
• Feel seen and supported in the process

That part still belongs to us.

A Shift Worth Making

If there’s one mindset shift to take from this episode, it’s this:

Instead of asking,
“How do we stop students from using AI?”

We should be asking,
“What is AI showing us about our classrooms… and what needs to change because of it?”

Because when we start there, the conversation becomes a lot more productive.

And a lot more aligned with what actually matters for student learning.

⭐️ About Aron Boxer

Aron Boxer is the CEO and Founder of Diversified Education Services. A former special education teacher and Director of Special Services, Aron has spent more than 15 years working directly with students and families. His work focuses on executive functioning, learning differences, and relationship-based approaches to education.

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