How Russian Schools Are Using AI to Boost Students’ Thinking Skills
Neural networks are becoming an everyday tool for Russian schoolchildren — but those who benefit the most use AI not for shortcuts, but for deeper thinking
A Shift From Answers to Thinking
Researchers found that high‑performing students treat AI as an “intelligence amplifier.” They use neural networks to analyze their own ideas, test hypotheses, and critically evaluate the system’s responses — maintaining focus on developing their reasoning skills. Another group of students uses AI mainly to save time, for example to speed up homework.
According to Anastasia Miklyaeva, Vice‑Rector for Research at Herzen University, the teacher’s role becomes crucial: educators must develop new competencies in students — deliberate prompt‑building, critical evaluation of AI outputs, the ability to delegate tasks responsibly, and the preservation of authorship in learning activities.
New Academic Directions Powered by AI
Rector Sergey Tarasov emphasized that educators must guide students toward using innovations to acquire knowledge rather than imitate it. St. Petersburg Deputy Governor Vladimir Knyaginin noted that the changes brought by AI to education are “irreversible,” requiring schools to adapt rapidly.
Herzen University continues expanding its IT programs and preparing specialists for the digital school of the future. Last year, several new educational tracks focused specifically on artificial intelligence, reinforcing the university’s commitment to integrating advanced technologies into pedagogy.
