A new drive to better understand the role of AI in education
London Tech Week is in full swing at the Queen Elizabeth II Centre, filled to the rafters with the world’s top tech talent. The electronic elite is united to discuss and debate how developing technologies are galvanising certain sectors of industry – more pressing, perhaps, is the role of AI in education.
This week, as per the British Government’s website, the Education Secretary has addressed the benefits of technology in education at London Tech Week, and some of her comments (and questions) have been ruffling the feathers of the summit’s hi-tech high flyers.
AI in education – should we worry?
2023 is the 10th anniversary of London Tech Week, and in that short time, it’s alarming to see just how much has changed. Well, the government doesn’t have all of the answers – good or bad – on the arrival of ChatGPT, Claud, Google Bard and MidJourney, but it is seeking views on how generative artificial intelligence (AI) is being used across education in England and the opportunities and risks it presents.
“We would like to hear your views and experiences of the use of generative AI tools in educational settings in England. We’re also seeking to understand perspectives on the potential benefits and risks of this technology around its use in education.” – GOV.UK
If you want to take part in this call for evidence, click here – it closes at 5pm on 23rd August.
No more cutting corners
To mark a wholly digital decade, then, Education Secretary Gillian Keegan is launching this call for evidence, which requests the public’s opinions on risk, ethical considerations and even training for education workers. Generative artificial intelligence tools like ChatGPT and Google Bard threaten to disrupt the way essays are written – they present a fantastic opportunity to cut corners, after all – yet recently, teachers have noted that this should be an opportunity for learning, not admonishment.
This survey represents a proactive stance: a bid for the government to harness public experiences and opinions to build the classroom of the future. It’s likely, if you’re reading this, that classrooms might not be as you remember them – PCs and screens already play a significant role in schools. What Keegan is keen to get to the bottom of is how this next-generation software can be a tool that equips students and young workers with applicable skills, tailored to a specific user.
For colleges, schools and universities, it must be the educators who are trained first, for its potential to be realised. The new launch follows a statement of intent in March, which outlined the government’s position on the use of generative AI, and how it intended to protect the commercial value of private data and push for a greater understanding of regulatory implications.
What do you think AI training should look like in schools, and which next-gen software is our government not paying enough attention to? Let us know in the comments.
Source: New drive to better understand the role of AI in education.
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