Estonian high school students want clear rules for using AI in education
Around 950 Estonian high school students from 18 schools discussed AI's role in learning and called for consistent agreements with teachers to ensure fairness and reduce uncertainty.
From March to May, 950 high school students across 18 Estonian schools participated in world-café discussions on artificial intelligence's impact on learning, relationships, creativity, social media, and their future. The key finding: students want clearer rules on AI use.
Students reported significant inconsistency among teachers and schools—some completely ban AI, while others actively encourage it. This creates a sense of unfairness, especially when teachers use AI to create materials but forbid students from using it, reducing trust in teacher-produced content.
Uncertainty also affects assessment. Students described cases where independently completed work received a lower grade than AI-assisted work, because teachers struggled to distinguish student effort from AI input. This undermines the meaning of grades. Only 21% of students feel that AI-generated work is fully their own. Creativity is tied to ownership, and students want guidance on using AI to develop ideas without replacing the creative process. They also need instructions on citing AI contributions.
Students expect to co-create agreements with teachers defining when, how, and to what extent AI may be used. The AI-Leap student program aims to establish such shared agreements in every Estonian school next year. The goal isn't to restrict AI but to find solutions that support learning and keep school human-centered.
AI offers quick, non-judgmental answers—about one-third of students turn to AI first when facing a problem, while one-fifth rarely or never do. Misuse is more common among those with mental health concerns or communication difficulties. Weaker emotional support and belonging increase the likelihood of replacing human interaction with AI. However, students emphasize that AI cannot replace humans. The solution involves strengthening schools' social role: as AI personalizes learning, schools must foster community and provide mental health support.
Discussions also highlighted concerns about social media algorithms shaping worldviews. Students want schools to teach media literacy, algorithm principles, and adaptability to a changing job market. Their main message: clear agreements on AI use, a culture that values learning from mistakes, accessible mental health support, individual feedback, and transparent labeling of AI involvement.
