I think that AI can be used in education to enhance learning. AI is here. It’s with us and if we don’t embrace it we will be left behind. Does it mean that we don’t need to teach students how to write? No, but we can now focus on the process more than the product for learning and assessment.

I use AI to help me create scenarios for lessons. AI can help create targeted lesson plans and help develop materials to teach the learning objectives. It is a powerful tool and can enhance professionalism. However, we do need core functional competencies. I haven’t researched it, but it seems that there are new and relevant skills that can be taught and focused on instead. When we do a research paper, our skills are in finding relevant sources and then applying them to our topic. I don’t know where things will go.

My stance is to embrace technology, and at the same time, ensure that students spend ample time outdoors and away from screens. I think we need to teach balance.

Photo by Ana Frantz on Unsplash

I popped in the last two reflection lessons into Chat GPT:

What do you think falls under the category of legitimate use for AI in schools? Where do you draw the line?

Here’s the answer (small, italicized words copied from Chat GPT):

The use of AI in schools can bring about several benefits, enhancing educational experiences and administrative processes. Here are some legitimate uses for AI in schools:

  1. Personalized Learning: AI can analyze individual student performance data to tailor educational content to each student’s needs, providing personalized learning experiences and targeted interventions.
  2. Automated Grading: AI can assist teachers by automating routine tasks, such as grading assignments and tests, allowing educators to focus more on providing qualitative feedback and interacting with students.
  3. Adaptive Learning Platforms: AI-powered platforms can adapt to students’ progress, adjusting the difficulty and pace of lessons based on individual learning styles and performance.
  4. Data Analysis: AI tools can process large volumes of data to identify trends and patterns, helping educators make informed decisions about curriculum development, resource allocation, and teaching strategies.
  5. Virtual Assistants and Chatbots: AI-driven virtual assistants can provide instant support to students and teachers, answering common queries, offering guidance, and facilitating communication within the school community.
  6. Administrative Automation: AI can streamline administrative tasks, such as scheduling, enrollment, and resource management, reducing the burden on school staff and improving overall efficiency.
  7. Language Learning Apps: AI-powered language learning apps can provide personalized language instruction, assessing individual strengths and weaknesses and adapting lessons accordingly.

However, there are ethical and privacy considerations that should be taken into account, and it’s important to draw a line to ensure responsible and equitable use of AI in educational settings. Some considerations include:

  1. Privacy Concerns: Safeguarding students’ privacy is crucial. AI systems should be designed with strong data protection measures to prevent unauthorized access or use of sensitive information.
  2. Equity: There should be an effort to ensure that AI applications do not exacerbate existing educational inequalities. Schools need to consider issues related to access, affordability, and the potential for bias in AI algorithms.
  3. Transparency: AI systems should be transparent, and users should have a clear understanding of how algorithms operate. Lack of transparency can lead to mistrust and concerns about the fairness of AI applications.
  4. Teacher and Student Collaboration: AI should complement, not replace, human educators. It should be seen as a tool to support teachers and enhance the learning experience, fostering collaboration between teachers and students.
  5. Bias and Fairness: Developers must actively work to identify and mitigate bias in AI algorithms to ensure fair and equitable outcomes for all students, regardless of background or demographics.

By addressing these considerations and establishing clear guidelines, schools can leverage AI responsibly to enhance educational outcomes while safeguarding the well-being and rights of students and educators.

In Education, it would be useful to follow up questions with the students – they could orally summarize their work on the next day so that they can’t just copy and paste without even reading or learning the content.