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AI Insider 03 October 2026

AI helps Leeuwarden student Hessel achieve better grades

AI helps Leeuwarden student Hessel achieve better grades

Hessel Blakborn, a student at Piter Jelles Impulse in Leeuwarden, has significantly improved his academic performance through the use of artificial intelligence (AI). He previously struggled to achieve passing grades, but now he easily scores a 7 or 8. This has been made possible by his school incorporating AI into the lessons, while teachers simultaneously seek to establish clear boundaries for using this technology.

At Piter Jelles Impulse, AI is applied in an innovative way, while other schools struggle with implementing such technology. In a report by Omrop Fryslân, both students and teachers share their experiences with AI, which helps them with extra practice tests and clarifying complex concepts.

Hessel primarily uses AI to prepare for tests. He starts with a practice test and asks AI for additional practice questions on topics he still finds challenging. This has helped him perform better. A classmate, Hielke Binnema, confirms that he works more efficiently by using AI for his homework. Teacher Anita Olde Olthof allows her students to use AI to visualize economic concepts, teaching them how to make the most of this technology.

Nevertheless, not every student is enthusiastic about the use of AI. Marije Nota worries about the environmental impact and thinks it may make students lazy. The school has even appointed an AI coordinator, Harry Verhaar, to regulate the use of AI. He emphasizes the importance of ongoing discussions between teachers and students about when AI is desirable and when it is not, as monitoring its use remains challenging. This raises broader questions about how schools in the Netherlands can assess students' skills in a time when AI is becoming increasingly integrated into education.

Read the full article from AI Insider.