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How are high school students using Generative AI? I analyzed anonymous feedback from my Precalculus and AP Computer Science classes this year. Here’s what I found about how students are integrating AI tools into their learning workflows:

In College Precalculus, ~55% of students used AI. Average helpfulness: 4.0/5. How they used it: • ~90% Explaining concepts • ~65% Checking homework answers • ~35% Studying for tests It served as a key "at-home TA" when stuck on tough DeltaMath homework.

In AP Computer Science Principles, AI adoption was much higher: ~85% of students used it. Average helpfulness: 4.13/5. How they used it: • ~85% Explaining concepts • ~70% Studying / test prep • ~50% Debugging code And ~80% said they understood the code the AI helped debug.

"I used it to tell me where the error was and what caused it, then I would fix it myself—no copy & paste ever." Students stressed code ownership: "Using AI for debugging made sense because having it explain errors is easy and helps you learn."

Students aren't just using AI to cheat; they're using it to unblock themselves, debug, and explain concepts when they're stuck. The future of teaching is helping them use it as a learning tool, not just an answer machine. Does this all actually lead to better learning??? NO IDEA.