Canadian teachers report rising AI use in student homework

A Leger survey of teachers in grades 6-12 across Canada indicates that the widespread use of artificial intelligence is significantly impacting the education system. Approximately 42.2 per cent of teachers believe more than half of their students use AI for homework and other take-home assignments.

Furthermore, teachers estimate that an average of 55.9 per cent of students use AI inappropriately to complete assignments instead of performing the required work themselves. This has led to a noticeable disparity in academic performance; 78.6 per cent of teachers observed that the quality of take-home assignments is higher than the quality of in-class tests and assignments.

An overwhelming majority of teachers (90.9 per cent) who noted this quality gap reported that the difference in performance between take-home work and in-class assessments has been increasing over time. Educators expressed concern that heavy reliance on AI may prevent students from developing essential writing, analytical, and knowledge-based skills.