Thursday, October 1, 2026
As artificial intelligence tools become more accessible to students, educators in East Rockaway are grappling with how to incorporate the technology into classrooms without sacrificing critical thinking and creativity.
At East Rockaway Junior-Senior High School, teachers across disciplines say the impact of A.I. is already being felt — from computer science to English — creating new opportunities for learning while sparking growing concerns about student reliance on the technology.
“There is a fine line between teaching students how to use A.I. responsibly and students becoming reliant on it,” said Marie Cordaro, who has taught math and computer science at the high school since 2019. “We don’t want to create a generation of students who can’t think for themselves.”
Cordaro said she has already noticed changes in students’ foundational thinking skills, comparing the shift to earlier debates over calculator use in classrooms. She added that some younger students now struggle with basic mental problem-solving in ways teachers may not have seen just a few years ago.
In computer science, however, she emphasized that A.I. is not a replacement for coding, but rather a tool that can enhance it when used correctly.
“There’s a big misconception that A.I. is a replacement for computer science,” Cordaro said. “It’s not — it works alongside it.”
She described an in-class experiment in which students asked ChatGPT to generate a specific Python program — a set of instructions followed by a computer to perform a specific task. The result, she said, was largely unusable without prior knowledge of coding. Students with programming experience were able to debug and improve the program, while those without that background struggled to make it functional.
“Unless you have the knowledge to correct it and be specific with what you want, it’s not going to work,” Cordaro said. “The students who can use A.I. to enhance what they already know — those are the ones who will stand out.”
Jennifer Isik, an English teacher at East Rockaway since 2019, said the effects of A.I. are even more pronounced in writing-based subjects, where creativity, voice and original thought are central to students’ work.
She said students are increasingly using A.I. to summarize texts, generate essays and even conduct research — sometimes leading to misinformation and confusion in the classroom.
“It’s preventing students from thinking creatively on their own,” Isik said, adding that the technology can “diminish authenticity and creativity in the arts.”
“It’s bypassing the research and writing aspect,” Isik added. “My concern is for the future — we’re sending students into the world who may not know how to do that on their own.”
Isik said she has been informally tracking A.I. misuse in student writing and has documented seven cases since 2022 in which students used A.I. inappropriately for papers. She noted that many of those students were involved in multiple activities and advanced-level courses, making the temptation to rely on A.I. even stronger.
Still, she said, the issue is more complex than simply cheating.
“It’s on every app,” she said, noting the growing presence of A.I. tools on platforms students already use daily. “It’s very tempting.”
To address these challenges, teachers are beginning to shift their approach. Isik said classroom teachers are placing a greater emphasis on digital literacy and ethical A.I. use, instructing students how to use the technology as a tool rather than a shortcut.
She noted that A.I. could still serve a positive role when used appropriately — for example, as a brainstorming tool or a way to clarify complex ideas.
Still, defining appropriate use remains difficult.
“Editing is where it gets tricky,” Isik said. “It can point out where something needs to be fixed, but it shouldn’t be doing the work for you.”
Cordaro agreed, saying that in some cases, A.I. can be a helpful resource for students who are genuinely trying to understand material outside of class.
She said she would rather see a student use A.I. to get help with a homework concept than give up entirely or simply copy someone else’s work.
As teachers themselves learn how to navigate A.I., both Isik and Cordaro said schools must continue adapting. Many educators, Isik said, are already returning to more in-class, handwritten assessments to better evaluate authentic student understanding.
Bonnie McClelland, East Rockaway High School’s director of Technology and Learning Analytics, released statements on the school district’s website regarding A.I. guidelines for students and how they could use the technology responsibly.
“Our priority will always be providing a safe, human-centered learning experience that values integrity, curiosity, and critical thinking,” she stated.
Cordaro and Isik agreed that A.I. is not going away, making it essential for schools to find a balance between innovation and integrity.
“It’s uncharted territory,” Isik said. “We have to teach students how to use it ethically and send them into the world with those skills.”
Have an opinion on A.I. use in schools? Send a letter to jbessen@liherald.com.
