By Jay Briar
Technology continues to change at warp speed, and schools often feel like we are playing catch-up with advancements that quickly become part of our everyday lives. Artificial intelligence has recently become a hot topic – not just in the tech world, but in education. While some fear AI will take over jobs or change learning in ways we can’t control, what if, instead of seeing it as a threat, we viewed AI as an opportunity to help our children learn and grow?
How AI Can Help Students Learn Better
Imagine if every student had access to a personal tutor. AI can analyze a student’s learning patterns, identify areas of struggle, and tailor lessons to individual needs. This means no more “one-size-fits-all” instruction. AI can provide targeted exercises and explanations for a student grappling with fractions, while another student excelling in the subject can be presented with more challenging problems.
When you combine the power of AI with great teachers who understand each child’s unique personality, strengths, and struggles, the level of personalized learning we can unlock has incredible potential.
More Time for Teachers to Teach
Teachers have a finite number of hours in the day, and right now, teachers spend a lot of time on administrative work—grading papers, tracking progress, and organizing lessons. AI can handle some of these tasks, allowing teachers to spend more time working directly with students. For example, leveraging AI to look for skills mastery in student writing allows teachers to accelerate instruction for students who demonstrate a clear understanding immediately. Likewise, teachers can quickly determine common mistakes multiple students have made in a class and immediately reteach a skill in real time.
In either case, this frees up valuable time for teachers to focus on what they do best: fostering critical thinking, creativity, and human connection. Picture teachers spending more time engaging in rich discussions, facilitating collaborative projects, and providing individualized student support. This is the promise of AI – not to replace teachers, but to empower them.
Making Learning More Accessible
There is also great potential for AI to enhance accessibility. Students with learning differences can benefit from AI-powered tools that provide real-time transcription, translation, and text-to-speech capabilities. AI can make learning more inclusive and equitable. When used thoughtfully, AI can help level the playing field, ensuring every child gets the support they need to succeed.
The Challenges We Need to Consider
We cannot, however, ignore the challenges. Concerns about data privacy, bias in AI algorithms, and the potential for increased screen time are valid and must be addressed proactively. We must develop robust ethical guidelines and implement safeguards to ensure that AI is used responsibly and equitably. We also must be vigilant in ensuring our children develop essential human skills. We must balance AI with opportunities for face-to-face interaction, hands-on learning, and creative expression.
Finally, there is the ever-present question of how we prepare our students for a future where AI is pervasive. We already know that rote memorization is a poor way to learn, and the ubiquitous availability of basic information makes the answers less important and focuses us all on asking the right questions and assessing information to ensure it is valid. This means we must focus on developing skills AI cannot replicate, such as critical thinking, problem-solving, and creativity. We need to cultivate a generation of learners who are not only technologically literate but also ethically grounded and socially responsible.
Preparing Students for the Future
AI is not going away. It is here, and its influence will only continue to grow. We cannot afford to bury our heads in the sand. Instead, we must embrace this technological revolution with a spirit of curiosity and a commitment to responsible innovation. We must work collaboratively with researchers, policymakers, and technology developers to ensure that AI is used to enhance, rather than diminish, the human element of education. We must lean into this challenge, not shy away. By doing so, we can harness the transformative power of AI to create a more personalized, engaging, and equitable learning experience for all students. We are, after all, preparing them for a world we can only begin to imagine. Let’s make sure our children are ready!
Jay Briar is the Head of Whitby School in Greenwich which serves students from preschool through middle school, offering Montessori and International Baccalaureate programs.
