School AI survey to inform lessons of the future

The study, led by researchers from the University of Edinburgh, is part of a project looking at the current use of, and attitudes to, AI among secondary school students and their teachers. The students will be asked specifically about generative AI, a type of artificial intelligence that is designed to create new content, such as essays, letters or artwork.

By understanding the current landscape of AI use by high school students in Scotland, teachers can better support their students to use AI responsibly for learning, experts say.

AI tools

The survey will have questions on the types of AI tools that pupils might have used, such as Grammarly and ChatGPT, and whether they have used them to help with their homework.

Students will also be asked about their knowledge of the accuracy of information produced by AI tools, particularly around so-called hallucinations – when generative AI offers inaccurate facts or statistics. The researchers are also keen to understand the policies and learning support that schools have in place for students when using AI, and whether teachers and students are familiar with these.

Parents and teachers are being asked to encourage their children and pupils to be part of the new survey. All young people will need to provide consent before taking part, anyone aged under 16 will need parental consent before completing the survey.

This study has been funded through University of Edinburgh’s Generative AI Laboratory. The Generative AI Laboratory harnesses the University’s world-leading research and innovation in artificial intelligence to develop safe solutions for both industry and government to benefit society.  

The survey will be available for completion up to 30 June. Parents and teachers that are interested in participating the survey with their class can find out more by contacting the study team aiinschools@ed.ac.uk