Why Your Child Needs to Learn How to Grade Homework (Not Do It)

As a parent, I'm constantly worried about the changing world and what it will look like for my daughter. The AI revolution and how fast-paced it is have me clutching my pearls, reading every article about it, watching every video that mentions it, and learning to generate winning prompts. When I came across this video interview of Po-shen Loh, I knew I had to share what I learned. His approach to the world is brilliant, and we all need to take note.

This is a summary of the video: How to be a creative thinker

Something profound happened when ChatGPT arrived. The entire foundation of education, what we've been doing for decades, suddenly became obsolete. Po-shen Loh, a Carnegie Mellon math professor and coach of the US International Math Olympiad team, puts it perfectly:

"People used to go to school to learn how to do the homework. Today, everyone needs to learn how to grade the homework."

This isn't just a clever observation. It's a complete reimagining of what education should accomplish. When AI can solve most homework problems in seconds, the skill that matters isn't execution but evaluation. Your child needs to become the judge, not the worker.

The Test Prep Trap That's Killing Creativity

Here's what's happening in classrooms across America, according to Po-shen Loh: Students spend countless hours memorising solutions to every possible question type. The goal isn't understanding, it's pattern recognition. They study until they've seen every variation, hoping never to encounter surprises on tests.

This approach might boost test scores, but it's devastating for actual learning. It eliminates opportunities for genuine invention. It turns education into a mechanical process of repetition. Most importantly, it fails to develop the mental flexibility kids will need when they face truly novel challenges.

Think about it: We're training students to be human calculators in a world where actual calculators exist.

The Matchstick Moment

Loh shares a puzzle that perfectly illustrates this shift. He asks:

"If you have six matchsticks, how can you make four triangles where each side equals one matchstick?"

Most people try to solve this on paper, laying matchsticks flat. They get frustrated because it's impossible in two dimensions. The answer requires thinking in 3D—building a tetrahedron, a pyramid with triangular faces.

This isn't just about spatial reasoning. It's about the kind of thinking your child needs to develop. Success in an AI world requires stepping outside conventional frameworks and approaching problems from unexpected angles. It's about thinking outside the box when everyone else is still trapped inside it.

The Software Engineer Model

Loh draws a compelling parallel to software engineering. When good programmers encounter unfamiliar tasks, they don't expect to find complete solutions online. Instead, they research similar problems, explore relevant technologies, and synthesise their findings into custom solutions.

This is exactly how professionals will need to work with AI tools. The AI might suggest approaches, but humans need the analytical skills to evaluate those suggestions, identify potential issues, and adapt solutions to specific contexts.

Your child will ask ChatGPT for help. The question is: Will they know when ChatGPT is wrong?

Learning Through Real-World Engagement

What sets Loh apart is his commitment to understanding people directly. He takes overnight buses, teaches in underserved schools, and gives math talks in public parks across the country. This isn't just personal enrichment but systematic customer discovery.

By engaging with thousands of parents and students in real-world settings, he identified the pain points that his educational ecosystem now addresses. His philosophy is clear:

"You cannot create value if you don't interact with people. You cannot just theoretically think about the value."

So What Does This Actually Mean?

The shift from "doing homework" to "grading homework" represents more than a pedagogical change. It's a fundamental reimagining of human potential in the age of artificial intelligence.

Your child needs to learn to be the supervisor, not the worker. They need to develop the confidence to tackle problems they've never seen before. They need to understand that the real skill isn't having all the answers but knowing how to evaluate the answers they're given.

The future belongs to those who can think, not just those who can follow instructions. And that future starts with how we educate today.