Mark Newton
Mathematics Teacher & EdTech Lead
The future of IT in education is looking increasingly promising, with new technologies and advancements in artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning set to revolutionize the way we think about learning. With the advent of these tools, educators worldwide, including here at Northbridge International School Cambodia, are exploring new ways to enhance the classroom experience for students.
One of the most talked-about tools in this field and one that has been in the news recently is ChatGPT, an AI tool which can understand human generated text and provide appropriate responses. Such tools can assist educators in a range of tasks, from answering student questions to generating lesson plans, exercises, quizzes, and teaching resources.
However, one of the most exciting applications of AI in education is its ability to personalize learning for each individual student. By analyzing a student's writing and understanding their strengths and weaknesses, AI systems have the potential to generate tailored learning materials that are specifically designed to help students improve. This can lead to better quality learning, as students are able to focus on the areas where they need the most help.
Asking ChatGPT to rewrite a university paper, using language suitable for Grade 9 students.
However, AI tools such as ChatGPT are not without their controversies and like any educational tool, need to be used appropriately and responsibly. One of the main concerns is the potential for students to become overly reliant on AI tools in answering questions and generating task responses, which may lead to a loss in critical thinking skills.
As educators, we have to find the right balance between using these technologies as a tool to enhance learning and ensuring that students are still developing their own understanding and skills.
Regardless of the concerns, these tools are here to stay. Microsoft have recently announced a new AI driven version of its search engine (Bing) which is powered by the same software as ChatGPT. They have also incorporated this technology into their video conferencing products to perform tasks such as live translations and automatically generated meeting notes.
Google have responded to ChatGPT with the announcement of their own AI system called “Bard”. Given the speed at which AI is developing, we understand the importance of opening discussions regarding the use of these tools with our students and providing appropriate guidance on their use.
Tools like ChatGPT have the potential to transform the way we think about education. By providing teachers with powerful tools to personalize learning and enhance student engagement, we can help create a more effective and efficient learning environment for all students.
However, it is also vitally important that, as educators, we are aware of its limitations and find the right balance in its usage.
World Children's Day (WCD) is celebrated on November 20 each year to promote international togetherness, awareness among children worldwide, and improving children's welfare.
The readers of this article have all likely experienced a ‘traditional’ exam setting. Rows of desks, pen and paper, and exam papers that are primarily constructed to test knowledge and recall of the course content. There is certainly some value to an exam paper that assesses a student’s knowledge, but ultimately, knowledge and recall represents a very narrow range of the skills actually needed in the modern world. Recognising this, the IB has taken an revolutionary look at assessment in the middle years, with the eAssessment.
