In recent years, mainstream schools have seen a proliferation of Artificial Intelligence (AI) driven tools and platforms within their classrooms. Whilst innovation within education is always welcome, this particular type of technology has raised important questions as to how the transformation of education is taking place, and what the future of teaching and learning will likely be within the AI age.
From tools such as ChatGPT to Grammarly, the efficiency of our day to day learning experiences has greatly improved, but should efficiency be at the heart of what we want to deliver within education? As more and more education technologies (EdTech) are developed with AI at their core, it is pertinent to examine what AI will mean for the global education landscape.
World Innovation Summit for Education (WISE), Qatar Foundation’s (QF) global initiative for creative thinking, debate and purposeful action in education, is hosting the 11th edition of its global summit from 28-29 November, 2023, to deeply examine the benefits and challenges of AI for education systems and what it will take to transform these systems. Ahead of the summit, Head of EdTech Programs at WISE, Victoria Basma, has shared some of her predictions for the way AI will change education in the next five years:
As AI-driven tools become more easily accessible, and personalized learning the norm, student-led learning will likely be more prevalent as students become more empowered. Indeed, an optimistic outcome of increasingly adaptive AI will be that students pursue learning experiences outside of the classroom, at a pace and style that best suits their needs.
In turn, as students begin to curate their learning experiences more often, we may see teachers take a much more lateral role within the classroom. Without the need to be stuck at the top of the room delivering pre-prescribed content, teachers can become innovative themselves in how they choose to supplement the learning taking place; we will hopefully be able to shift from a one-size-fits-all mindset to a more individualized approach tailored to each student’s diverse needs.
In order to prevent extensive learning losses, the COVID-19 pandemic had caused many schools to take a reactionary approach to technology use and integration. However, two years on from the initial onset of the pandemic, schools have begun to intentionally apply digital learning strategies in order to not only incorporate technology in the classroom, but also empower students and teachers alike with the skills required to utilize them properly.
Digital transformation strategies do not just relate to work that goes on within the school, but also are beginning to reflect how schools want to become integrated with their larger innovation ecosystems, and the partnerships they wish to engage in in order to become hubs of innovation and learning.
Education ministries around the world are demonstrating a sharpened focus on national strategies related to education technology and innovation building. Notably, Qatar’s Ministry of Education and Higher Education has made great strides in this area to drive a system-level approach to innovation.
This comprehensive approach includes investment in innovation, encouraging global startups to integrate in the local market, educating and empowering teachers to become more innovative in the classroom by using existing tools or developing their own.
An important aspect to consider when it comes to the development of AI-driven EdTech, is how these innovations can help us existing challenges within education, including problems related to access and quality , particularly in areas that still have very little infrastructure or connectivity. With that in mind, we will hopefully see increased investment in infrastructure building so that communities from under-privileged areas can experience the same quality of innovation and learning as their counterparts in more developed parts of the world.
Within the topic of accessibility, it is equally important to this focus on the inclusion of differently-abled learners, whose needs are not best met by mainstream technologies and tools. We often assume that technology and innovation immediately grant greater access to all, however whether it be for the differently abled or those from impoverished areas, there is still a one-size-fits all approach that leaves some of the most vulnerable members of our communities at risk of being left behind.
As we come to depend more and more on technology to lead our daily lives and build our economies, it is essential that we are all empowered to take that leap into the future together. Human values have always driven innovation, and we must keep that in mind as we continue to move through this new age of AI technology.
Discussions centered on these trends and emerging education challenges will be at the heart of the upcoming WISE 11 summit. For more information or to register for the summit, please visit: https://wisesummit2023.org/
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Source and Cover Image: Press Release
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