COMPUTING & IT RESOURCES
Closer than you think F
rom digital learning to app-assisted lesson planning, Artificial
Intelligence (AI) is bringing with it the potential for computers to be used in many new ways. It could be transformative for schools, but it also comes with risks. For schools contemplating using AI, or those that have it already and have more questions than answers, Chris Carter, Edtech Adviser at HFL Education, explains the rewards and risks – and
why some schools might unknowingly be using it already. AI has the potential to become a real game changer for schools, particularly in reducing teacher workload. A TeacherTapp survey in June 2024 found that a quarter of teachers had used AI tools for school work in the previous week, and most teachers were positive about AI’s value in creating lesson content, analysing assessment data and lesson planning.
While there is excitement about AI tools, not everyone is onboard. In March 2024, a Trinity College London report found that 63%
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www.education-today.co.uk
of teachers believed that generic AI tools are too unreliable and inaccurate for classroom use. While nearly half (46%) believed that leveraging AI could improve educational outcomes, 54% still aren’t convinced!
The dissonance in opinion is understandable. Many of the school leaders and teachers we speak to are unsure of AI because they don’t fully understand the risks and benefits. Many aren’t sure of what they need it for either i.e. what problem is it going to solve? Here’s some of the essential things to know before you get started:
It may already be on your devices
AI functionality is already embedded within tools widely used in schools. For example, if you have recently upgraded to Windows 11 it comes with a taskbar icon leading directly to the free version of Copilot.
Teachers may also be using generative AI unknowingly in the form of a ‘wrapper’. This is a programme which acts as an interface between the user and a Large Language Model (LLM) tool. So while you think you are using an app to create lesson plans, for example, the tool itself is using a LLM like GPT-40 behind the scenes.
AI is no longer a choice
You could ban generative AI tools such as ChatGPT, Copilot or Gemini but different types of AI are built into programmes we use on a daily basis - so we are using it whether we like it or not. A good
December 2024
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