AI and free research? When I was a child, I wanted this.

![AI and free research?] When I was a child, I wanted this. ](/images/2025-07-18-ai-summer-research/main.jpg)

Speaking of summer vacation, I remember the days when I was worried about "free research".
Many of you may have had such an experience after many days without deciding on a theme, struggling with research, and facing imitation paper night after night.

But how reassuring it would have been if I had a "partner called AI" at that time.

Is free research "cheating" with AI? Or is it your dream partner?

AI like ChatGPT is attracting attention as a useful tool for free research, such as consulting on topics, giving ideas for experimental content, and even thinking about sentence structure.

Some people say, "But that's cheating...?"
However, in reality, AI is not an "answer" but a "hint for thinking".
It is a reliable "partner" who researches, thinks, and helps with composition together.

What AI Can and Can't Do

What you can do:

Consultation on themes and ideas (e.g., "Is there a nature observation theme for 3rd graders?")
Assist in researching necessary materials and experimental methods
Support for organizing observation data and creating graphs (can also be linked with spreadsheet software)
Advice on report structure (introduction, method, results, summary, etc.)
Suggest captions and illustrations

What you can't:

Experience of actual observation and recording
Ghostwriting your own "realizations" and "impressions"

In other words, AI is very useful as a being that "draws" out children's own learning and discovery.

Examples of AI Usage by Grade Level

Lower Elementary Grades:

Support for word-making for morning glory and insect observation diaries
Gently support "I can't put it into words"

Secondary Year:

Checking the steps of a simple science experiment (e.g., the reaction between baking soda and vinegar)
Support for research learning (e.g., constellations and cloud types)

Upper grades:

Summary of questionnaire results (graphing and writing)
Proposal for composition of regional surveys and environmental reports

Free research in the AI era fosters the ability to think

Rather than "completed answers", children are looking for hints on "how to do well".
AI responds by showing you options, helping you with words, and teaching you how to do your research.

It is never a "cheating", but a tool to bring out creativity.
Why don't you enjoy free research in a futuristic form this summer?

"AI × Free Research" that I want parents and adults to try

In fact, the appeal of using AI for free research is not just a privilege for children. **
By using it together with parents and teachers, the learning time becomes more "interactive" and "fun".

For example...

For children who want to challenge deeper themes than last year, AI proposes new perspectives based on past examples.
For children who are not good at writing, you can also use "speak colloquially first and then prepare it".
If you are having trouble balancing the layout and font size of imitation paper, you can ask AI for "easy-to-read summarization".

The time spent together as a parent and child to think about "how should I use it?" and "I want to try this myself" may be the "essence of learning" in this era.

Conclusion: If I had this back then...

I myself remember wondering when I was a child, "Where should I start with free research...".
I read idea books at bookstores, looked them up in the library, and in the end, I was confused that I could only do what I could do.

Thinking about it, today's children are living in a truly blessed era.
AI won't solve everything, but...
As a powerful ally for "thinking for yourself and trying for yourself", it will surely create memorable summer memories.

Why don't you borrow a little bit of the power of AI for free research?
**"Make thinking fun" - that is the form of learning in the AI era. **