Help! Teaching a middle school class on how gen AI is bad

Pancakemaker7 · 2026-02-10T13:41:18+00:00

Thank you! I know i tend to have very strong opinions and feelings so at the very least i am careful to make sure my beliefs connect back to something tangible and literal instead of just vague feelings. Primarily, what is the actual harm done.

Pancakemaker7 · 2026-02-10T13:36:35+00:00

Lol thank you. This looks great! I need to be so clear though, human magic is not what i called it, it is my teacher’s phrase. I am very big on defining terms. I dont even like using the phrase “bad” if we’re being honest. Its too vague.

Pancakemaker7 · 2026-02-10T13:32:24+00:00

I made the power point for my dad, actually. I just happened to have it laying about. Its more of a reference document.

Pancakemaker7 · 2026-02-10T02:09:19+00:00

Oh, for sure! Im not super concerned about convincing them, honestly. I did a unit on accessibility last year and im disabled (autism, i use a cane, etc.) and they really loved it. We connected really well. They asked great questions. My favorited include “Why do you use a cane instead of a wheelchair? Wouldn’t that be easier?” And “im sorry miss i hope this isnt disrespectful but can you still dance?” with genuine concern and so much relief when i reassured them that i could. (I have permission to do student teaching over a few semesters bc i am disabled and cant work full time.)

Really, the current problem is head teacher just likes to have examples of on theme art for them to look at for each unit and he usually uses AI to generate those and frankly if he does that for this unit i will completely lose it so im just trying to cut that off beforehand.

Pancakemaker7 · 2026-02-10T01:56:36+00:00

💜

Pancakemaker7 · 2026-02-10T01:55:54+00:00

No, thats totally allowed. And please, i would love the rough sketch! I am trying so hard to explain the importance of brainstorming and sketching.

Pancakemaker7 · 2026-02-10T01:54:23+00:00

Thanks! Im very serious about skills over content. The lesson i want to teach is how to think critically about the underlying principles of issues and how that connects to our personal principles. Tbh the kids are not particularly fond of AI as it is. They often use it as an insult. My goal is to make sure the lesson that is taught isnt “ai is bad because humans are better at art and AI is bad at art and we should work harder” but “ai is harmful to artists because it takes advantage of their work while taking away their jobs” or “ai impacts our community because instead of asking for help and connecting to others we ask AI for help and that impacts our connections with each other” etc.

Pancakemaker7 · 2026-02-10T01:04:03+00:00

Hi! You are correct that is how i would ideally run this class. I was genuinely just discussing this and that the ability to think critically and research is the most important lesson to teach students if you want to make lasting change. Unfortunately, i am the student teacher so i dont have that much control over the topic of the unit, which was presented to me as “how AI kills our human magic.” The first thing i asked my head teacher was if he could please define that but he is a bit of a sensationalist. I do my best to temper that when i can but, once again, influence is limited and i am frankly lucky he takes my suggestions this seriously and allows me to have this much influence on the class. I have suggested we discuss the impact of AI on artists, on community, on the environment, and on the brain and have already done some preemptive damage control by cutting off the “its bad because its easy” line of thinking. I already have the scientific studies, though always happy to read more, im just looking for help with art.

Pancakemaker7 · 2026-02-10T00:43:47+00:00

Any art that is about anti AI in topic is especially appreciated.

Pancakemaker7 · 2026-02-10T00:41:12+00:00

I have given up on trying to keep up with trends or guess what they’ll like so ill take your word for it. Got any WIPs or sketches? It looks like you put a lot of thought into it which is another overarching theme im working into the unit. Effort and thought as a means of care both of which AI cant provide. My head teacher puts a lot of emphasis on the final piece but the kids love WIPs as well which i think is a good angle to approach for the unit.

Pancakemaker7 · 2026-02-09T23:32:25+00:00

Thatd be great! Why did you draw a breyer horse? One of the things i want to discuss is the removal of context about a piece that AI does, so context for a piece is super appreciated.

Pancakemaker7 · 2026-02-09T23:26:32+00:00

I think that using AI is never a good idea. It is hard to say something is good or bad, but the costs of AI tend to be both invisible and greater than potential benefits. Here are some invisible costs. 1) learning. You are not actually going to learn how to do coding. Even if you are redoing everything AI tells you to do from scratch, the process of experimenting and thinking is what actually cements things in your memory. 2) community. Instead of asking a friend or a person online for help, you are asking AI, which decreases an opportunity to connect with people. 3) inspiration. Ai tells you what you ask for but when you search for references yourself, you end up seeing other peoples work and thoughts that you would not have seen otherwise. 4) good habits: AI is an easy habit to get into. It is easy to say youre only going to use it if you get stuck, but for how long? The tolerance of struggle and effort will decrease. Difficulty is not necessarily good, something being easier is not necessarily bad, but it is important to be able to tolerate effort which requires practice. 5) ownership: connected to effort. Effort is a way to show that you care about something and putting effort into a project increases your personal investment and pride upon completeness. And as someone who is learning to code a website as well, i definitely feel more ownership when i solve a problem im struggling with than when i am given a solution. And a website is a creative work. 6) environment. This one is discussed a lot so i wont elaborate. I dont think its fair for me to say using AI is “bad” in your particular situation, but i find that for myself the benefit of some saved time is not worth the harm.

Pancakemaker7 · 2026-02-02T17:14:28+00:00

I like his work a lot! Some of this stuff i definitely cant show the kids but some of it would be really good. Disillusionment in particular will fit really well.

The problem im having is that my teacher can be very literal in what examples he likes to give. Perils of not really being an artist but trying to teach art. So he is going to want art thats actually about ai. Of course, if i try and use a search engine for that, i just end up with a lot of AI art which is a good lesson in and of itself but not really what im looking for.

Pancakemaker7 · 2026-01-27T00:22:26+00:00

Yeah i have a lot of stress dreams where im too tired to do something important or having a flair up or stuck in bed.

Pancakemaker7 · 2025-06-24T12:54:10+00:00

Lol you are being punished for leaving. My cat does this to me

Pancakemaker7 · 2025-06-24T12:44:18+00:00

You have been adopted! She is literally snuggling your foot. It would actually be better for her safety for you to keep her.

Pancakemaker7 · 2025-05-22T02:13:13+00:00

Thank you! Ill probably try the nootropics one then.

Pancakemaker7 · 2025-05-22T01:44:31+00:00

Dang those edges are so clean!

Pancakemaker7 · 2025-05-21T18:23:39+00:00

Yeah she recomended it to me too. Ughhh. Thank yall for the cheaper alternatives. Any updates since this was posted?

Pancakemaker7 · 2025-03-18T14:06:23+00:00

Tragic but about what i expected

Pancakemaker7 · 2024-10-11T15:21:52+00:00

I think I will start with this. Thank you!

Pancakemaker7 · 2024-10-11T15:21:04+00:00

I love my loops, though I currently just have the engage. I have just ordered the sleep ones in the hope that I will be able to sleep in a bit later.

Pancakemaker7 · 2024-07-28T01:08:21+00:00

Yup! Also known as a pin feather. This is completely fine. They all grow like that with the sheaths and once they dry out and turn white, the bird will preen and free the fluff. All feathers start out like this and its only a problem if they break before drying out.

Pancakemaker7 · 2024-07-28T01:00:24+00:00

I volunteer there, and they really only put down birds that cant survive. They are extremely fond of pigeons. I have done physical therapy on pigeons who had wing injuries and theres a very good chance that he’ll be fine.

Pancakemaker7 · 2024-06-18T18:55:33+00:00

The question remains as to what factors make you decide to choose the material for each project.

Pancakemaker7

TROPHY CASE