Here we talk to Dr. Yong Zhao, a distinguished professor at the Foundation at the University of Kansas, about why there is the need for a stronger emphasis on personalized education, how ai can help and how the exchange of ideas between educational leaders can help boost education.
Zhao will be the main speaker in Deep learning from New York 2025
The benefits of deeper and personalized learning
We all remember to have learned a certain number of subjects while they were at school, but how often were any of these issues specifically attended to each individual student? As Zhao explains, there has been a stagnation in the educational space for years, one that causes questions about the importance and efficacy of deeper learning.
“If you go to a school, it is the same as 300 years,” says Zhao. “The first big problem in education is (that the government, or the State, has always controlled what matters in learning. No one is there to be responsible if what we force our students to learn will not matter in five or ten years. So, the first thing I think everyone has to be wise is to say 'What is worth a deeper learning?'”
So what is the solution that would help advance in education?
“What we need is a true personalization of learning,” says Zhao. “You allow students to study what interests them and what they are good. I emphasize those two points: interest and strength. Each of us, regardless of where you are, has strengths and weaknesses. We have an irregular profile of skills, skills and interests. Then, after finding your personalized path, (ask) where you want to go and what you want to do. “
Understanding the way forward can make a difference when it comes to personalized learning. By focusing on individual aspects that could help a student perform their full potential in their training years, it can lead to long -term success.
<h2 id="what-role-ai -can-play-in-personalized-learning-3″>What role can ai play in personalized learning?
With the introduction of artificial intelligence in the classroom, new opportunities have emerged for educators to better understand how to help students learn more effectively. As Zhao states, while ai is excellent for some tasks, there must be a human interaction to direct the interaction of students and teachers.
“Teachers use ai to create lessons for students,” he says. “Students use ai to do homework. Teachers use ai to get the task. There are no human beings involved. We really love teachers ready. Teachers' roles have to change a lot because students need teachers in the ai era for social and emotional support, and for guidance. “
The ai will still be there to do some of the heavy jobs, but if a teacher is not on the traditional role in a classroom, what are they doing?
“(Teachers) can help children find opportunities,” says Zhao. “What we need our teachers to do in this new era is not to teach, but to support, train, facilitate, handle. And that changes our thinking about schooling. “
In a more supportive role, teachers can help students customize their way of education instead of simply continue along with an existing curriculum that does not present the subjects in which they have interest.
The benefits of sharing innovative ideas
If it seems that education has not advanced at some time, it is because many of the isolated practices that existed years ago persists today. Zhao suggests that it is important to gather innovative minds to discuss possible advances in the educational space.
“The first thing is not only to get new ideas, I think the first thing is really to gain courage if you want to change,” says Zhao. “School leaders, such as the directors, superintendents, are actually quite alone. They can't necessarily share. They can be facing challenges. This is a private place to play with ideas, win courage and, hopefully, (bounce their ideas with each other).
Collaboration with related people can help advance the innovative spirit in education, normalize risky in a traditionally static space and develop courage and camaraderie among decision makers. With more interactions like these, more ideas can be forged to bring education to a new light.
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