Education is now more accessible, and cheap, than ever. Now with the introduction of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and generative AI systems, it has even more potential to transform education as we know it.
Many educators are cautious when it comes to introducing AI in education, holding the fear that students will use it to cheat or do their homework for them. Well, it is true that AI is transforming how students learn to engage with learning and gathering information. However, the benefits far outweigh the negatives, and I think it’s time we start to spread education on AI.
Many teachers are aware that AI is becoming increasingly integrated into education and this calls for the need for AI Literacy professional development opportunities along with ongoing support. In this article, we will explore the ethics, implications, and limitations of AI in Education and provide statistics surrounding this topic. Let’s dive in.
The Growth of AI in Education
Let’s first define AI: Artificial Intelligence is essentially a database of incredibly smart technology that collects data and information to perform tasks that typically only humans do, like performing logical reasoning, making predictions, and solving problems.
Since the introduction of Chat-GPT in November 2022, there have been several updates and advancements in this technology. This rapidly evolving generative AI technology, and now multimodal with OpenAI’s 4o update, can answer any prompt or question within seconds, and it is transforming many industries and daily life – including how we teach and learn.
The intersection of AI and education is a critical area for future development and societal advancement. That being said, let’s take a look at how teachers view AI in education.
Teachers Want More Education To Understand AI and Use It Ethically
According to a survey conducted in October 2023 by Forbes Advisor, 98% of the teachers surveyed stated they need education on the ethical use of AI. More than 60% of teachers also seek comprehensive education and support for implementing AI technology.
This statistic is incredibly eye-opening to me. As a former teacher, I know how difficult it can be to familiarize myself with new technology in my free time while juggling lesson planning and grading papers. I know that many educators have heard of AI and Generative AI software like Chat-GPT, but really lack the time to research and get to know the real benefits and ethics surrounding AI in education.
In fact, a study by EducationWeek showed that 46% of teachers haven’t explored these tools because they have other priorities that are simply more important. What research shows is that teachers want to start having real conversations and Professional Development on AI, but are seeking support from their administrators and district officials because they are looking for high-touch support and ethical guidance.
Let’s start having conversations about AI in education and the ethical implications of using this software regarding data privacy and algorithmic bias. One way to ethically implement AI in Education is through the development of an AI Policy, which guides the school community on the responsible use of AI-powered tools. For more information on developing a strong AI Policy for your school, contact Schooling America and schedule a call to learn more.
Now that we have discussed the conversation surrounding the ethics of AI in education, let’s take a look at the benefits that teachers who are implementing AI in education are experiencing and what they have to say about the future of education.
Benefits of AI in Education
With Chat-GPT creating controversy about cheating and the software impacting student learning, it makes sense that only a small percentage of teachers feel confident in integrating AI into Education. However, there are many more benefits that outweigh the negatives, and to ignore the potential that AI has in transforming learning outcomes would be to miss out on reaching new milestones and expanding our education model as we know it.
Let’s take a look at some statistics surrounding the benefits of AI in Education.
Enhanced Student Engagement
Various AI tools are now designed for student-paced learning with the ability to customize content for them to learn at a healthy yet challenging speed. These AI tools are referred to as ‘adaptive learning programs,’ and are shown to increase student test scores and learning outcomes by 62%.
Many adaptive learning platforms are designed to engage students by appealing to their unique interests while designed with game-like elements. This concept is known as gamification, where students embark on personalized learning adventures and win rewards from interactive digital challenges.
Improved Learning Outcomes
Gamification is a trend in education that shows promise in increasing student engagement and improving learning outcomes. Through the use of Generative AI software, teachers can gamify learning material across all subjects and age levels with effective prompting techniques.
Kahoot! and Quizziz are examples of the gamification of formative testing, measuring student learning outcomes in a fun and engaging way. Alternatively, teachers can use Chat-GPT to get creative with personalizing learning adventures by designing virtual escape room challenges, immersive narratives, interactive storytelling, and more! Teachers can really get creative here, using their knowledge of their students in combination with strategic prompting techniques to increase student engagement and improve their learning outcomes!
Teacher Efficiency
According to the World Economic Forum in 2020, technology can help teachers reallocate 20-30% of their time toward activities that support student learning. Now almost 5 years and multiple advancements in Generative AI technology later, we will see this number climbing.
On average, teachers spend about 10 hours a week planning engaging lessons, differentiating, grading papers, creating quizzes, and completing administrative tasks to name a few. Generative AI tools have the ability to save teachers at least 50% of their time planning outside of the classroom. Say goodbye to spending evenings lesson planning and differentiating, and say hello to efficiency like you’ve never seen before. Now teachers have the opportunity to reallocate their time to planning ways they can directly impact student learning and increase scores in creative and innovative ways.
Challenges and Considerations
Like any tool, AI can be beneficial, neutral, or even harmful, depending on how it is used. It is important to acknowledge the elephant in the room; that there are potential drawbacks to using AI in Education. It is important, however, to evaluate whether you feel integrating this technology into your individual classroom and operations is the best option for you.
Equity and Access
It is important to consider the equity and accessibility of AI tools for all demographics. There are tons of Free AI tools that are available for teachers, one of the most popular being Chat-GPT 3.5. This software is also considered a Freemium app, meaning the basic level services are free, but you can pay for additional services or features.
Accessibility will then depend on the district and school and whether they have funding to purchase the premium rates or if they stick with the free versions. It is incredibly important to have conversations surrounding AI in Title I schools and communities, and how we can provide resources to communities so that we collectively stay ahead of the tech curve.
Teacher Training and Professional Development
As discussed previously in this article, teachers are seeking support and guidance with AI models. In fact, middle school teachers have a positive attitude towards AI education, but low AI-related skills, suggesting a need for relevant, interactive, collaborative, and accessible platforms. If teachers don’t even have guidance on AI technology, I imagine that students feel even more lost and have the potential to use the tool in ways that can be unhelpful. However, when used responsibly, there are numerous benefits of AI in Education.
Schooling America offers various professional development opportunities for educators and schools, from developing an AI Policy and Ethics of AI workshops to building AI Literacy and Generative AI workshops.
Ethical Considerations
Common concerns from educators regarding AI in education according to research conducted by ForbesAdvisor are listed below:
-
-
- 65% believe AI will be used for essays/homework
-
- 62% believe it will reduce human interaction in learning
-
- 42% have data privacy concerns
- 30% believe it will eventually replace teachers
-
It is incredibly important to become ethical advocates of AI in the educational setting – if anything, it truly is our responsibility. Proper training and support for educators on AI models and software is necessary to promote confident teachers who lead technology, rather than a generation of teachers led by technology. The first step in combating the negative potential of AI is to establish a solid AI Policy for your school community. Read more about developing an AI Policy here.
Conclusion
From the statistics and research mentioned throughout this article, it is apparent that AI is only becoming more integrated into the education system and that teachers have a mostly positive outlook on AI due to its various benefits. It is also apparent that teachers are looking for high-touch support with AI training and guidance on responsibly integrating AI into school operations.
Schooling America is here to encourage and empower you to try something new. You never know how AI can positively affect your day-to-day life until you give it a try. As AI rapidly evolves, and the talk about GPT-5 being released soon, I am looking forward to observing how AI continues to revolutionize education and improve learning outcomes for learning of all ages. Educational institutions should try their best to stay up to date with emerging technologies and consider integrating AI into their practice. Experience the benefits for yourself!
Citations and Additional Resources
Becker, H. (2000). Who’s wired and who’s not: children’s access to and use of computer technology.. The Future of children, 10 2, 44-75 . https://doi.org/10.2307/1602689.
EdWeek. “Most Teachers Are Not Using AI. Here’s Why.” Education Week, https://www.edweek.org/technology/most-teachers-are-not-using-ai-heres-why/2024/01.
Forbes Advisor. “Artificial Intelligence in Schools: Enhancing Education Through Technology.” Forbes, https://www.forbes.com/advisor/education/it-and-tech/artificial-intelligence-in-school/.
Harvard Digital Initiative. “Knewton Personalizes Learning with the Power of AI.” Harvard Business School, https://d3.harvard.edu/platform-digit/submission/knewton-personalizes-learning-with-the-power-of-ai/
World Economic Forum. “AI Can Accelerate Students’ Holistic Development and Make Teaching More Fulfilling.” World Economic Forum, https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2023/05/ai-accelerate-students-holistic-development-teaching-fulfilling/.
Polak, S., Schiavo, G., & Zancanaro, M. (2022). Teachers’ Perspective on Artificial Intelligence Education: an Initial Investigation. CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems Extended Abstracts. https://doi.org/10.1145/3491101.3519866.
