PISA creator: Students' critical thinking weakens amid digital reading, AI use

Students' ability to evaluate information, establish connections between various sources, and think critically is weakening, Program for International Student Assessment (PISA) creator Andreas Schleicher said via video link at the VII International Forum on New Challenges in Education, Report informs.

According to him, book reading statistics are declining, while the trend toward digital reading is growing.

"That is, instead of reading a book and enjoying a novel, it may seem more attractive to superficially scroll through social media feeds. This can lead to the weakening of fundamental skills that we need in the modern world," Schleicher said.

He stated that, according to PISA data, students using artificial intelligence-based chatbots for tasks such as summarizing texts show lower reading scores compared to those who do not use these tools.

"This is especially noticeable in tasks requiring deep cognitive processes and intrinsic motivation. It all depends on exactly how AI is used in practice. However, the main idea is very simple: we do not get in physical shape by watching sports games - we get in shape by doing sports. Similarly, learning means being directly involved in the process," he noted.

The expert added that AI should not be used as a shortcut to learning or a means of obtaining ready-made answers, but rather as a pedagogical tool to enhance thinking and cognitive activity.