All Australian schools will allow the use of artificial intelligence in the classroom as of 2024. A ground-breaking moment for education it seems. Will education ministers around the world follow in similar footsteps when revising their national frameworks guiding use of new technology? This move to AI will surely provoke all sorts of questions in the education sector. How will the teacher role change? Will teaching become de-personalised?
In this article, we delve into the multifaceted ways AI is being used in schools and the profound impact it has on the education landscape.
Personalised Learning
One of the most significant contributions of AI to education is the concept of personalised learning. Traditional classrooms often struggle to accommodate the diverse needs of students, but AI-powered platforms can create tailored learning experiences. These systems analyse students’ strengths, weaknesses, and learning styles to deliver customised lesson plans and resources. This ensures that each student progresses at their own pace, leading to improved engagement and academic performance.
Adaptive Assessment
AI-driven assessment tools are changing the way educators evaluate student progress. These tools use data analytics and machine learning algorithms to provide real-time feedback to both teachers and students. Adaptive assessments adapt difficulty levels based on the student’s performance, ensuring that they are always challenged without feeling overwhelmed. This allows teachers to identify areas where students need additional support and adjust their teaching strategies accordingly.
Virtual Teachers and Tutors
AI-powered virtual teachers and tutors are becoming increasingly popular. These digital assistants can provide immediate help to students, answering questions, explaining concepts, and even grading assignments. They are available 24/7, making learning accessible at any time, which is especially valuable for students who need additional support or struggle with traditional classroom settings.
Administrative Efficiency
AI is also streamlining administrative tasks within schools, saving time and resources. Chatbots and virtual assistants can handle routine inquiries from students, parents, and staff, freeing up human resources for more complex tasks. Additionally, AI-driven systems can help schools manage schedules, allocate resources efficiently, and optimise budget planning.
Early Intervention
Identifying students who may be at risk of falling behind academically is crucial for effective intervention. AI can analyse student data and patterns to detect early warning signs, such as declining grades or absenteeism. This enables educators to intervene promptly, providing targeted support and resources to help struggling students before they fall too far behind.
Language Learning and Accessibility
AI-powered language learning applications and tools are helping students acquire new languages more efficiently. These platforms use speech recognition, natural language processing, and machine translation to improve pronunciation, grammar, and vocabulary. Moreover, AI technology can be used to create accessible materials for students with disabilities, such as text-to-speech software and braille translation tools.
Education Research and Data Analytics
AI is also transforming education research by providing educators and policymakers with valuable insights. Data analytics tools can analyse large volumes of data to identify trends and patterns in student performance, curriculum effectiveness, and teaching methodologies. This information informs the development of evidence-based educational strategies and policies.
Challenges and Ethical Considerations
While AI offers immense potential to revolutionise education, it also raises certain challenges and ethical considerations. These include concerns about data privacy, the potential for bias in AI algorithms, and the need for responsible AI governance in educational settings. In recent months, ministers in Denmark have raised concerns regarding students using AI to cheat and produce inauthentic essay papers. How schools monitor this phenomena will be a matter of process, with particular focus being paid to students’ ability to evidence editing and drafting. Schools and policymakers must carefully navigate these issues to ensure that AI benefits all students without creating new inequalities. The danger schools face is, by not keeping pace with the growth of AI, they will fall behind. Seeing the technology as a threat will only further widen the gap schools will need to close, as others embrace and find harmony with it. Another concern is that schools adopt this new technology fully, without evaluating its effect or use. For example, allowing AI to manage assessment or grading without human intervention, is not a sensible approach. With anything, there is balance to find.
AI in schools around the world
In China, the government has invested heavily in tools, such as the adaptive tutoring platform Squirrel AI, which relies on camera surveillance and large-scale data sets. These tools focus profoundly on improving performance on standardised tests, therefore families who can afford such resources, benefit. It is important to note that in countries like China, ethics, impartial access and privacy are not high priorities.
In India, ed tech company Embibe uses AI to clarify complex math and science concepts. Students can use their smartphone to scan a passage from a book, and the app uses 3D imagery to help with visualisation. AI is also being used in India to make early predictions on student attainment.
Singapore recently announced a national initiative to build AI literacy among students and teachers to support teacher and student understanding of the risks and benefits of such technology. By 2026, training on AI in education will be offered to all teachers, including trainees.
Hackathon
Teachers and school leaders from across England are set to participate in an artificial intelligence (AI) hackathon event at the end of October to experiment with technology and identify how AI could improve education. Those taking part will be asked to explore the AI to test its potential in a variety of scenarios, ranging from writing lesson plans, marking papers and carrying out administration tasks. As the government seek to reduce teacher’s workload, this experimental event will provide evidence to education ministers alongside discussion with school leaders.
Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, Michelle Donelan said: “We want to see teachers using AI to speed up administrative tasks and planning so that they are free to focus on the things which make the biggest difference to students.”
Director of Government at Faculty AI, Tom Nixon, said: “The hackathon will be an important step in moving from rhetoric to reality, and we’re excited to help get these tools into classrooms.”
Conclusion
AI is undoubtedly reshaping the landscape of education, enhancing the learning experience for students and providing valuable tools for educators. From personalised learning and adaptive assessment to administrative efficiency and early intervention, AI’s potential in education is vast. As the technology continues to evolve, it is crucial for schools and policymakers to harness its power responsibly and inclusively, ensuring that every student has the opportunity to thrive in an AI-augmented educational environment.
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About the author
Andrew Timbrell
Andrew Timbrell is a primary teacher and freelancer writer with over a decade of classroom experience, passionate about teacher well-being and personal development. Alongside his teaching and subject lead roles, he has been a part of senior leadership and is acutely aware of the wider, holistic view of education.