In a thought-provoking and eye-opening article, Sir Anthony Seldon offers a glimpse into the potential of AI within education and the ways that it could be leveraged by both students and school staff. It is, for now, an article of ambition but one that is well within reach considering the evolution of AI and how it is being embedded into more and more systems.
I attended EDUTech Asia this week, a leading technology conference in South East Asia, and it was dominated by discussion around AI. Companies were also toting the newest ‘AI-powered’ tools and platforms for schools to use. But with the excitement around AI across society, not just education, it is important to continue to exhibit caution and a critical lens with the potential for its use.
A driving quote for the DCIS Digital Strategy is “For humans to thrive in the age of smart machines, it is essential that they do not compete with machines. Instead, they need to be more human.” (Zhao & Watterston, 2021) and this is echoed by Sir Anthony in his article. While we leverage the technologies that are available to us, we need to continue to develop well-rounded young people at the same time. This is to ensure they are prepared to meet the ever-changing dynamics of society, with or without technology.
Dan Franklin
Whole School Deputy Head, Educational Technology
