At MCC, we are committed to equipping students with the skills, knowledge, mindsets, character, and values they need to thrive in life. But in a world increasingly shaped by Artificial Intelligence (AI), we must ask: are these skills still as relevant as they once were, and how should students engage with AI in their learning?
AI and Learning
AI can now write essays, summarise documents, and even generate questions at different levels. So, is it still necessary to teach students these skills? And how should they engage with AI?
- Should they avoid it altogether?
- Should they input tasks into AI and simply ‘tweak’ the results?
- Or should they do their own thinking first, and then use AI only to support and refine their work?
A Few Key Points
AI is a powerful tool. Just like a graphics calculator, it is only helpful for those who already have the knowledge and skills to apply it well. The value of AI depends on the quality of the prompts given.
This means students must still develop strong, capable minds:
- to understand a problem or need,
- to recognise its context,
- to decide on the most suitable solution (including when and how to use AI).
They also need knowledge and discernment to evaluate AI’s output, as well as the skill to adapt or improve it when necessary.
Our Approach: Me First, AI Second
That is why MCC continues to focus on essential skills such as writing, inquiry, organisation, reading, and memorisation.
Just like at the gym, where no one builds strength by asking a trainer or machine to lift their weights, students build capacity by thinking for themselves. To truly benefit from their learning, they must engage their own minds first, rather than relying on AI or even a teacher to do the work for them.
We encourage students to adopt a simple principle:
Me First, AI Second.
Think for yourself first, then let AI support you in making improvements.
Mr Tim Oates
Head of Secondary
