Using AI in the classroom and the inequality that comes with it

Will social divide be worse?

I recently attended a conference about using AI in the classroom, and overall there was a very positive vibe about the great uses of this for our education system including:

• more time for teachers to teach ‘human’ skills of problem solving, resilience, motivation, creative thinking & curiosity

• less time spent on basic lesson creation & more time spent on looking at where students are to meet them at their Zone of Proximal Development.

• More opportunities to explore varied content which allows for different styles of learning.

However, it was disappointing that no one spoke about how if schools are already struggling to access quality technology & internet - how far will they be left behind?

Schools that have money and who can use this money to spend on teacher training, family support & technology which better uses AI will be able to not only extend their students further ahead but likely to have places where teacher’s wellbeing is better catered for.

AI is coming fast and politicians need to bridge the digital divide now so that it does not deepen. They can do this by:

• improving internet infrastructure

• resource schools that are lacking in the basic computer technology

• develop AI tools that are culturally responsive - think of our First Nations people as well as migrants and those from Non-English speaking background.

• better engagement with communities and families so that they know how to navigate AI in their homes for good.

The use of AI in education does look exciting but without adequate infrastructure for all, embedded policies and teacher education it might not pan out as we are planning for all.

Reading:

https://www.unesco.org/en/articles/impact-inequality-and-imagination-envisioning-more-ambitious-education-era-ai