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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.

"AI can answer questions quickly and conveniently when doing homework at home and students aren't able to ask their teacher." But they warned about passive learning: "I can see AI being helpful, but it's too much of a temptation to just get the right answer."

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."