The fact that we are already so far into the twenty-first century tells us a lot about who we are as a species. We have grown to become so dependent on computers and digital services that we barely had the chance to realize the effect they have on us.
Artificial intelligence has been around for a while in small forms such as automated domestic devices and those that allow us to preprogram a set of parameters that a machine can follow (such as autopilots). But how can we take that concept a step further? Can we use artificial intelligence in our education systems in order to completely put aside a classic form of a teacher?
Blurring the lines
Given that artificial intelligence has developed to a point where we can safely let our machines do work for us (automated factory lines, AI car drivers, etc.), are we really ready to let machines teach our children at schools? The question is far from simple, and there are a lot of factors to consider.
For one, teachers have always been parent figures in the student’s eyes and their relationship goes further than just study/teach. Many students even today have troubles with trusting teachers who are cold, distant and give them an overall hard time. How can we put students who are introverted, insecure or emotionally unstable in the hands of an AI? An AI by definition knows how to operate according to the parameters we set forward during the programming stage.
If we tell an AI to keep an eye out for elevated heart rates, it will keep an eye out for that particular factor. The trouble is that it will neglect all the other factors that might potentially lead to the same conclusion. Not only that, but even AIs can misinterpret information, especially if it comes from a living being that they are in charge of teaching. Make no mistake “ we are still far from creating sentient AI forms that are capable of teaching and carrying out methodical teaching tasks in schools. But the question isn’t If? it’s When?
Data analysis
What most people agree on, however, is that teachers and AI forms can coexist in the classrooms of the future? The question of whether or not to trust an AI with the full and unsupervised access to kids and students around the world quickly goes out the window “ it’s simply not possible. For one, we are developing a future generation where the technology will be an omnipresent thing that separates us from becoming completely dependent on electronic devices.
Teachers who are human and know these things are essential in creating generations who are aware of the power they have over the machines but also know how to appreciate them for what they essentially are “ tools for us to use. AI systems of the future that can be used in classrooms can aid teachers in significant ways, some of them making the process of learning much faster and adaptable.
They can analyze student data, grade them, assign different courses based on preferences and profiles, do data analysis on complete states and countries based on given parameters, etc. They could potentially detect and analyze the student’s use of services such as Myessayslab when writing their papers, which can be good or bad for the students involved.
This is the best possible solution that keeps our children away from being fully influenced by AI without any guidance by seniors who are more aware and knowledgeable. Just think about the fact that you would be exposing your child to a future Facebook or Twitter for hours on end, right there inside the classroom. Now think about the long term implications and the fact that those children will be completely numb and lost outside of the devices and AIs that surround them. This is not the utopia we are all dreaming of “ it’s the complete opposite.
What the future holds
Now that we have talked about the pros and cons of developing AI for classroom use “ what does the future hold for robotics and AI systems in education? The truth is that no one knows for sure. Teachers have been using electronic devices, the internet and recently even VR to familiarize the students with different aspects of technology. This is a good way of showing the students how to properly use technology without becoming completely dependent on it.
Many teachers are still very much analog, and sometimes this is a good thing. While not many world countries can support fully-online teaching and classroom methods, those that can have proven that the children are far more advanced and adept at solving problems and adapting to new situations. Those that are analog, however, are more prone to practical and hands-on experiences rather than asking a computer for help. The truth is that we won’t know what AI can do for the future of education of a very foreseeable future.
A generation or two will have to change before we can fully realize where we are and where to go next. The children of our children might experience the surge of technology in their classrooms and be delighted about it. We, on the other hand, might be skeptical of this new approach to teaching because it was done differently in our time. This is a classic generation gap question and it’s something that should be considered as objectively as possible.
In the end
Whether the implications of AI in classrooms are good or bad, the fact is that the technology will offer children a much wider array of options when looking for jobs. Executives are more than happy to hire tech-savvy people who know their way around a computer. All we can do is wait and see what the future holds for our and many other children around the world who will be affected by AI-oriented teaching methods.
