In a world where technology is evolving at an unprecedented pace, education is on the cusp of transformation. Imagine classrooms where teachers have cutting-edge technology and where students not only learn from textbooks but co-create their educational journey. artificial intelligence resides at the nexus of education and technology, where opportunities seem limitless, yet uncertain.
Over the past few months, EdSurge webinar host Carl Hooker moderated three webinars in which expert panelists in the field discussed the transformative impact of artificial intelligence in the field of education. The webinars, sponsored by Amazon Web Services (AWS), served as a platform to gain valuable insights from educational leaders, policymakers, and educational technology product developers. Throughout these sessions, three overarching themes emerged: the imperative to fully realize the potential of ai, the importance of sensible and responsible implementation, and the need to prepare ourselves and our students for an unclear but promising future.
Defining artificial intelligence Integration
ai integration refers to the incorporation of machine-driven intelligence into various applications and processes, enabling tasks that mimic human cognitive functions such as learning from data, problem solving, and pattern recognition. Kevin McCandless, Senior Solutions Architect at AWS, emphasizes the importance of machine learning (ML), a fundamental ai technique that uses algorithms and historical data to make predictions. He also introduces the concept of generative ai (gen ai), which means the next step in the evolution of ai and ML. Gen ai offers the remarkable ability to create entirely new educational content, underscoring its vital role in enhancing the learning experience.
Harnessing the potential of ai
Richard Culatta, CEO of ASCD and SOUGHT, presents a compelling framework for integrating ai into education. It identifies two important facets: the first revolves around the use of ai as a tool to improve learning, with an emphasis on personalized education and support. The second dimension refers to teaching young people how to leverage ai for their future careers, leadership roles and learning opportunities. Culatta rightly observes that while most discussions focus primarily on the first facet, there is a worrying lack of attention to the equally vital second dimension.
The crucial first step in addressing both facets is to wholeheartedly embrace ai in educational settings. Mary Strain, business development executive for artificial intelligence and machine learning at AWS, highlights a notable discrepancy in the acceptance of generative ai within the education landscape, particularly between K-12 and higher education institutions, and The former sometimes prohibit generative ai. She highlights the potential of ai-generated content to empower students, giving them agency in their learning journey, fostering higher-order thinking skills, and introducing innovative educational challenges.
For school districts looking for quick fixes, Culatta emphasizes the futility of blocking ai as it is quickly becoming a ubiquitous presence. Educator and educational technology consultant Rachelle Dené Poth agrees and shares how she encourages her students to use ai-powered tools in the classroom. “You have to show students that (generative ai) is just a tool and let them know that this is not supposed to replace their own critical thinking, creativity and all those skills that they need,” Ella Poth says.
Before bringing students into the ai generation, it is imperative that educators embrace the technology. But do teachers receive the support they need to do so? Culatta says, “It's really critical that we support educators right now. It's one thing to say: Go learn about ai. It’s another thing to provide time and space for educators to explore.” ISTE has made this point of view a priority, offeringai” target=”_blank” rel=”noopener nofollow”> Professional development and resources that focus on learning and effectively integrating ai.including a guide for school leaders and a teacher course.
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Integrate ai decisively and responsibly
As ai continues to reshape education, it is crucial to explore not only the opportunities but also the ethical responsibilities associated with this technological transformation. Joe Pringle, business development leader for artificial intelligence and machine learning at AWS, highlights the need for a meticulous and cautious approach to the use of ai in education. He highlights the high-risk nature of implementing ai in educational contexts, emphasizing that it is crucial to consider all possible implications and avoid high-profile mistakes. While Pringle is optimistic about the potential benefits of ai for teachers and students, he still emphasizes the importance of carefully evaluating what could go wrong, the potential costs of errors or incorrect recommendations, and implementing robust controls to mitigate these risks. .
In May 2023, the tech.ed.gov/” target=”_blank” rel=”noopener nofollow”>US Department of Education Office of Educational technology published an ai report: tech.ed.gov/files/2023/05/ai-future-of-teaching-and-learning-report.pdf” target=”_blank” rel=”noopener nofollow”>artificial intelligence and the future of teaching and learning. The report outlines recommendations for guidelines and barriers to the responsible use of ai in educational technology. This includes the use of ai in educational technology tools for data analysis, pattern recognition and resource recommendation.
How does intentional and responsible use of ai manifest at the local level? Mark Racine, chief information officer of Boston Public Schools, promotes a collaborative and decentralized approach to determining when and how ai should be used in education. He explains that his district decided not to follow a formal policy on ai for primarily two reasons. First, policies are often rigid and slow to change, and given the rapidly evolving nature of technology, they wanted to avoid being locked into a policy that could become outdated before it could be updated. Second, they found that many ai-related concerns, such as intellectual property, cheating, and the use of sensitive information, were already covered by existing policies.
Racine advocates for a distributed approach to using ai, in which teachers and students engage in dialogue to determine when ai is appropriate for a lesson. This flexibility allows for adaptive integration of ai while maintaining openness and transparency between instructors and students. Although some guidelines are essential, such as those aimed at safeguarding sensitive data, Racine believes that encouraging the responsible use of ai tools and preserving the partnership between students and teachers should take priority over a rigid, top-down ai policy in education.
Prepare students for an uncertain future
Educational institutions play a critical role in preparing students for an uncertain future in a world increasingly influenced by artificial intelligence. How can educators effectively adopt ai in the classroom when there is a valid concern about students misusing the tools and impairing the learning process?
Dr. Aleigha Henderson-Rosser, associate superintendent of educational technology at Atlanta Public Schools, emphasizes the value of personalized learning and effective teaching practices as a strategy to address concerns related to cheating in the context of ai. She suggests that by focusing on having students set and reflect on their own goals, providing targeted instruction, encouraging creativity, and employing data-driven techniques, educators can create engaging and collaborative classroom environments. “We took a different approach (by saying) 'Don't do that.' It's more about: What does an engaged lesson look like and what are best practices? Her view is that ai can serve as a springboard to elevate and enhance students' creative abilities despite the common fear that students will become less creative.
Racine acknowledges that there is often concern that new technologies can stifle creativity or cause students to think too robotically. However, he remains optimistic about the impact of ai on students and education. He believes ai can help students overcome technical or skill limitations and be creative in new media they couldn't access before.
Similarly, Graham Glass, CEO and founder of CYPHER Learning, underscores the importance of offering students transformative experiences that demonstrate the vast possibilities of human-ai collaboration. He believes students and teachers will realize the potential to achieve more when they leverage ai. “I think it's really important for humans to figure out in all walks of life how to partner with ai to amplify (their) capabilities,” Glass says. “There is an opportunity for educators to rise to the challenge. But I wouldn't be complacent if I were an educator. I wouldn't be like, Hey, let's see how it goes.. The clock is ticking, and if you can't find a way to be really engaging and compelling in class, students will disengage and learn outside of class.”
Webinar presenter Hooker agrees with Glass, suggesting: “A teacher will not be replaced by ai. But maybe a teacher will be replaced by a teacher who uses ai.”
Dr. Elizabeth Álvarez, superintendent of the Forest Park School District in the Chicago suburbs, agrees that the concern should not be so much with the integration of ai but rather with developing best practices for teachers. “With or without ai,” Alvarez says, “if your class simply isn't engaging, it won't be creative. I believe a lot in humans; that's where creativity will come from. It won't come from ai. It will come from…the instructor.”
