When ChatGPT, the artificial intelligence-powered chatbot, landed in November 2022 and started gaining traction over the next several months, a lot of educators and parents got scared. Public school districts in Washington, California, and New York quickly put up firewalls to prevent students from using it. But quickly, they realized kids who had computers at home still had access to ChatGPT, making it unfair to students who didn’t, who couldn’t access it at all. So, the districts changed their tune and got rid of the bans. The next step for educators was to figure out how to work with AI in school because it wasn’t going away.
Our kids are going to grow up with AI, whether we like it or not. And now that educators are working to understand its capabilities, they’re learning that AI in school has a lot of perks that will benefit teachers and students alike. Here are 3 things kids and teachers gain now that AI is in the classroom and here to stay.
1. Preparedness for the Future
AI is a powerful tool that will affect (and is already affecting) education. But it’s impacting many other areas as well such as engineering, software development, marketing, the military, healthcare, and others. With AI, new jobs, according to Forbes, have already been created, with more still to come as AI advances. And it’s advancing right now at an incredible rate. These new AI jobs may someday entice our children. Working with AI now in the classroom will get kids used to this tool and better prepare them for what’s to come.
Many districts are holding workshops and learning sessions to help teachers get acquainted with AI technology so they can incorporate it in their classrooms. AI tools are even in some colleges at this point as professors learn how best to utilize it in the university setting. With teachers and professors learning how best to implement AI in school, they’re preparing our children for the future and giving them a practical leg up on the technology. Someday, when our kids are in the workforce, their work environment could look very different from ours today, thanks to AI.
2. Time Saved in the Present
As a former teacher, I certainly wish generative AI were around back when I taught. I used to spend every Sunday afternoon on the floor of my living room planning for the week. I imagine my prep time would’ve been cut in half if I had an AI-powered assistant working with me. From the students’ perspective, this would’ve translated to more energy from me in the classroom.
Teacher burnout is real. And though the number of teachers leaving the profession has increased since the pandemic, it’s been a problem in education for a long time. According to McKinsey & Company research, the majority of teachers who said they planned to leave the profession “cite an unmanageable workload.” I would agree. Good teachers throw themselves into the job and spend whatever time necessary to plan for the week as well as care for and connect with each individual student. It’s a lot. Now, with AI, teachers would have help. And this could potentially keep teachers in their professions longer. That’s a win for students, districts, and teachers.
3. Personalized Learning for All Students
If a second grader is struggling to read, how is she going to fare in third grade? To help her reach grade-level standards, one-on-one learning would be needed. Likewise, if a child is already at or above grade-level, one-on-one assistance could help enhance that student’s learning. But providing this level of support is “incredibly time-consuming and requires the commitment of resources—particularly staffing—that often don’t exist in the stretched public school system,” according to Tigran Sloyan in FastCompany, a business and tech site.
That’s where AI in school comes in. Personalized learning is a significant benefit. “AI systems can analyze students’ learning patterns and tailor educational content to meet individual needs,” says Neil Sahota for Forbes. “Through AI-enabled teaching assistants and mobile applications, teachers can provide tailored educational resources, ensuring each student receives the attention and support they need.” And while some school districts have already developed their own teaching assistants, others are piloting a teaching bot for Khan Academy, the education nonprofit whose lessons are already used in hundreds of school districts (including my own).
It’s understandable to be cautious about AI doing the work for students, Sloyan says. But AI technology “has the potential not just to improve education, but to make high-quality, personalized learning accessible for all.” We’re at the beginning. Resources and tools are still in development. But I’m optimistic about how AI in school can enhance my kids’ learning and yours.
In what ways would you be OK with your child using AI in school?
