Artificial intelligence and technology (AI) affect numerous aspects of the lives of children. AI plays an ever-growing part in children’s education as well as their professional lives. Schools are taking on technology for learning that automates such tasks as giving feedback, choosing the most appropriate material for learning, as well as aligning curriculum to the demands of students. However, many jobs are relying heavily on technologies and AI. The next generation of young people could dream of becoming a quantum machine-learning analyst as well as a personal curator of memory, and jobs that were once more traditional, like mail carrier, cashier, or bookkeeper, might disappear. Children today must be prepared for these shifts and be able to work with various forms of AI. Our belief is that kids should be actively involved in the process of learning and living with AI. This requires that they acquire new abilities and capabilities.
“We believe that children should be active participants when learning and living with AI.”
Self-regulated learning
If essential work skills are taught from a young stage, children will continue to improve these skills throughout their school years. One of them is the management and monitoring of their learning, often referred to by the term self-regulated learning. It allows learners to transform their mental capabilities into academic abilities by self-generating feelings, thoughts and actions that assist to achieve their goals.
Students who are able to regulate their learning through this method are better equipped to handle the rapid pace and demands of the day of AI. They are able to recognize and control their weaknesses in learning. However, even though self-regulated learning techniques can bring academic advantages however, children aren’t offered enough opportunities in the classroom to practice and explore these skills with teachers’ guidance. When children utilize free digital learning apps, they could be given too much freedom, resulting in a lack of learning. However, they might get too much help when they use more formal educational technology. More concerning is the possibility the possibility that AI could take over greater control in the near future and completely automatize the process of learning, thereby restricting the opportunities for children to learn important self-regulated abilities.
“Students who can self-regulate their learning are well equipped to navigate the faster pace of life in the age of AI.”
Agency for teachers and learners
As children develop self-regulated learning capabilities, agency – the power to decide on the direction of their learning is a key element. When working with educational software that uses digital technology there isn’t always easy to determine who is the one in the control. Are they the learners or teacher, or is it the AI tool? Digital tools for education collect huge amounts of information on learning, and AI is able to use this information to better understand the nature of the processes involved in learning. Do we have the ability to utilize the data as well as AI algorithm to help empower students and teachers, and empower them? We think so. However, in order to realize this, students and teachers require more expertise to get the most benefit from AI assistance.
The first thing is that teachers and students should be able to adapt to the new circumstances and challenges due to the fact that changes in society are becoming more frequent in the age of AI. As technology advances, more and more technology will be introduced into classrooms and both students and teachers will require collaboration in order to make use of them efficiently.
The second is that teachers and learners require collaboration effectively with humans as well as AI. When students are working in groups with technology, positive social interactions and control skills such as monitoring and planning are essential for learning.
Thirdly, students require emotional and social support in order to deal with difficult problems. Teachers, caregivers, and technology can provide this assistance to help students comprehend and manage their emotional state and their motivation.
Finally, students must take small-scale changes to their strategies to improve their. For instance, they could be proactive in setting goals, as well as be aware of their actions when working alongside others or using AI. These abilities and skills are vital for giving learners and teachers autonomy. Therefore, we believe these should become a primary priority in the education system.
In the direction of an AI that can empower educators and learners
There are two methods to the application of AI in education settings. In one scenario, the teachers’ responsibilities are transferred on to an AI software, and it serves as a tutor for every student. The use of smart technology to tailor lessons to the individual needs of students is in usage in many classrooms as intelligent Tutor Systems. An alternative use of AI is to boost human intelligence and allow teachers to teach and learn more efficiently. This method is also being used in the real world, such as with teachers’ dashboards which offer real-time information regarding student performance, as well as in adaptive learning technology which allow teachers as well as AI to control classes together.
