AI in Education Podcast Gen Z to Gen AI: What Students Really Think – with Dr Anna Denejkina
Aug 14, 2025
Dr. Anna Denejkina, a researcher at the Insight Centre and Student Edge, explores how young Australians are engaging with generative AI. She reveals that 30% of Gen Z students are reconsidering their career paths due to AI's impact on job security. Gender influences confidence in AI skills, with notable disparities affecting women in STEM. Denejkina emphasizes the need for clear guidelines on AI use to combat plagiarism misconceptions and advocates for more inclusive decision-making in AI development to better reflect student needs.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
15-Year-Old Pivot To Caring Roles
- A 15-year-old thought electronics jobs would vanish and considered switching to caring roles.
- That student's reasoning highlighted young people's pragmatic pivot toward human-centered careers.
Plagiarism Fears Often Mislabelled
- Most students report they have not plagiarised with generative AI and do not plan to.
- Many uses students label as 'plagiarism' are actually legitimate study activities like brainstorming and editing.
Provide Clear Rules And Practical Training
- Give students clear, practical rules distinguishing acceptable AI use from cheating.
- Teach specific prompting, verification, and examples so students can use AI confidently and ethically.