Sir Anthony Sheldon, master of Wellington College, predicts that within 10 years, a technological revolution will transform education, transforming teachers from human-like figures to intelligent machines. This shift will lead to teachers becoming mere classroom assistants, transforming the world forever.
How can we prepare for the AI future?
Sir Anthony, a historian and political commentator, has predicted that artificially intelligent (AI) computers will be the primary tool for instilling knowledge into young minds. He believes that AI will change human life, offering an Eton or Wellington education for all with personalized teachers and software that can move at the speed of the learner. These adaptive machines will listen to the voices of learners, read their faces, and study them in the same way gifted teachers study their students.
Sir Anthony’s vision was outlined in a talk at the British Science Festival and will be the subject of his new book, The Fourth Education Revolution, due to be published early next year. He believes that AI will change human life and open up the possibility of an Eton or Wellington education for all.
What are the benefits of AI?
The COVID pandemic has highlighted the importance of in-person education, making it easier for students to interact and automate tasks. However, AI can augment student learning experiences and make teachers’ lives easier by taking over repetitive administrative tasks like grading using natural language processing. Machine learning tools can track student progression by creating profiles based on individual grades and identifying potential development areas.
AI can also personalize learning by enabling higher levels of differentiation for students from pre-K to college based on their needs. Companies are developing intelligent instruction designs and digital platforms to provide learning, testing, and feedback to students from pre-K to college. AI tools can also make education more accessible, making global classrooms accessible to everyone, including those with different languages, visual or hearing impairments, or those who need to interact at their own pace.
How can we use AI ethically?
AI in education has made significant progress, but it is unlikely to replace teachers anytime soon. As machine learning and AI advance, human interaction becomes even more crucial. Teachers are essential in understanding students’ minds and motivating them to learn and grow.
High-quality human teachers have a variety of motivational tactics to keep students motivated throughout the school year. Even young students recognize that rewards and penalties delivered by computers are not the same as those experienced by teachers and peers.
