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Young Makers: AI for KidsLesson 8 of 11

8 · Being kind & honest (use AI to learn, not to cheat)

AI can help you do amazing things — and how you use it says a lot about the kind of maker you are. Two rules make all the difference: be honest, and be kind.

Be honest — use AI to learn, not to cheat. It might feel tempting to have an AI just do your homework and hand it in as your own. But think about what really happens:

  • You don't actually learn it. The whole point of practice is to grow your brain. If the AI does it, your brain misses the workout — like having a robot lift weights for you and wondering why your arms aren't stronger.
  • It isn't truthful. Turning in AI's work as if it's yours is a kind of fibbing, and at school that can be against the rules.

So what's the honest way? Use AI as a tutor and a helper, not a cheat sheet:

  • "Explain this math step so I understand it" ✅ (then you do the problem)
  • "Quiz me on my spelling words" ✅
  • "Give me three ideas to get started, then I'll write it myself" ✅
  • "Do my whole worksheet and I'll copy it" ❌

If you do use AI to help, say so — tell your teacher how you used it. Honesty is always the brave, right choice. (Always follow your own teacher's rules about AI, too.)

Be kind — with AI and with people. Don't use AI to be mean: no making fun of people, no fake mean messages, no pretending to be someone else to trick or hurt them. A good maker uses powerful tools to help, never to harm. The NIST safety rules even say people should always stay responsible and accountable for what AI is used to do — and that includes you.

The maker's promise: I'll use AI to learn and create, I'll be honest about my work, and I'll be kind to everyone — online and off.

Think about it. What's the difference between "AI, teach me how to do this" and "AI, do this for me"? Why does the first one make you smarter?

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8 · Being kind & honest (use AI to learn, not to cheat) · ElementaryMBA