August in the US is “National Back to School Month.” For generations of teachers, students, and parents, the summer’s end has been a time to gear up for a new academic year. And while this annual rite has spanned centuries, the learning technologies that greet returning students have continuously evolved. Today’s educators need to contend with the power of AI-driven tools as they introduce the technology’s challenges and opportunities into the classroom.
Just as we have seen AI take hold across the wider world, we can expect to see its adoption in the classroom accelerate in the years to come. A survey of educators from December reported that the majority of respondents said that their districts/schools would increase their use of AI-driven instructional tools by at least a little in the following year.
AI applications have already made their way into classrooms, promising to enhance educational experiences and learning outcomes through personalization, automation, and augmentation capabilities. In an educational context, these capabilities translate into learning and instructional aids for individualized tutoring that can increase student engagement and offer support that meet each learner’s unique needs. The benefits of this tailored learning support is not lost on parents, 55% of whom see AI tutoring as the most positive application of AI in education. This personalization can also be especially helpful in making learning materials more accessible, and 75% of educators believe that AI can help bridge the gap for students with special needs.
In addition, AI-driven tools can streamline many of the routine tasks, such as grading, that consume much of the time teachers could otherwise devote to working directly with students. Statistics indicate that AI can reduce the time teachers spend grading by as much as 30%. AI also offers opportunities for educators to gather insights into trends in learning that can help them identify needs and adapt lesson plans accordingly.
Recent surveys have found that the stakeholders most directly invested in trends surrounding education—teachers, students, and parents—express both positive impressions of AI’s potential as a learning aid and trepidation about its potentially harmful impact. For example, a recent survey found that 97% of parents expressed at least one concern about the introduction of AI into the classroom, but only 12% believed AI should not be included in the school curriculum. Among parental concerns are the risk of misinformation, bias, and children becoming overly reliant on technology.
Similarly, 55% of teachers said they thought AI has had a positive impact on learning, and, according to a survey from one year ago, almost four in ten teachers expected to use AI during the 23-24 school year. Still, less than half felt prepared to use these technologies.
For their part, schoolchildren appear curious about AI and eager for guidance in this area. A poll of children ages 9-17 conducted late last year found that 72% of them would like adults to help them learn how to use AI tools.
Among the most common concerns about the use of AI in schools is the challenge of protecting children’s privacy. AI technologies can help educators capture valuable insights into patterns and trends that impact learning outcomes. They can also enhance security on school grounds. However, with all of these applications, safeguarding children's data and fostering a human-friendly environment in schools must remain primary considerations.
To promote the use of AI-driven tools that effectively support students and teachers, organizations are developing resources, guidelines, and recommendations for safeguarding against harmful outcomes associated with AI in schools. Such resources include guidance for designing assignments that compel students to rely upon their understanding of a subject, rather than on AI. In addition, a range of AI-powered plagiarism detection tools might ease the minds of teachers and parents who are concerned about AI-assisted academic infractions. Further, the US Department of Education recently published a guide for the design of equitable, safe, secure, and transparent AI tools for education.
There is little doubt that learning how to use AI is becoming a critical skill for today’s young learners. Teachers who put AI to good use in the classroom can support this learning by modeling its constructive and responsible use. And, perhaps most importantly, working with AI tools in school can help students learn how to leverage AI safely and effectively in their future roles.
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