Agent for Change: The Future of Technology in Education

 


Agent for Change: The Future of Technology in Education



     Technology is rapidly changing the world we live in. Education is no different. The most recent and potentially, the most transformative is artificial intelligence (AI). The most meaningful and effective use of AI is still being debated among educational leaders. However, its presence is ubiquitous and unable to be denied. Educators must learn to embrace it and use it appropriately without removing the human element of creativity, innovation, and social emotional learning in the classroom. "By embracing AI technologies, educators can foster personalized learning, enhance creativity, and optimize their time and effort. However, it is essential to address challenges such as quality control and ethical considerations to ensure responsible use. Integrating generative AI tools into teacher education programs, providing practical training, and fostering collaborations with technology experts are key steps toward preparing future educators for the AI-driven educational landscape" (Kehoe, 2023, p. 175).




      "Many educational professionals recognize that a variety of the jobs of the future may well incorporate AI and will demand skills that haven't even been dreamed up yet. It would be a mistake for teachers and administrators to waste their time trying to keep students from making effective use of the technology resources already available" (Frazier & Hearrington, 2024, p. 205). Generative AI can be utilized by teachers and students in a variety of ways. For example, SlidesGo Presentation Maker can quickly create a slideshow relevant to a teacher's unit of study. This can save hours of prep time. Quizzizz AI can quickly take classroom content and generate a quiz for students. Additionallly, it provides immediate, personalized feedback to students. AI can assist teachers in the classroom by providing immediate feedback for students working on a project or essay, which frees the teacher up to run small groups or writing conferences. Essay Grader is an AI tool that does just that. Similarly, Quizzizz AI allows educators to create and grade assessments. While AI can certainly be helpful for teachers. It is important to remember that it is not infallible. "While AI is helpful and can provide a variety of constructive uses, it is important to remember that it is not human intelligence, capable of emotion or ethical judgement" (Frazier & Hearrington, 2024, p. 204). Teachers are still imperative in order to facilitate social emotional development and cultivate personal relationships with students. No computer program can replicate face to face human interaction. 




     There are also many ethical considerations when using AI in the classroom. The use of generative AI tools like ChatGPT to write papers for students or plagiarize is a valid concern. Schools are in the midst of trying to figure out how to use these tools in a positive way and also how to set guidelines for their usage. "Teachers and technology leaders would do well to concern themselves with some of these ethical issues rather than attempting to simply keep students from completing assignments using tools like ChatGPT. Technology leaders of the future will need to keep AI on their radar and be thinking how best to manage and make positive and effective use of it in the learning process" (Frazier & Hearrington, 2024, p. 206).


References

Frazier, M. & Hearrington, D. (2024). The technology coordinator's handbook: A guide for edtech

    facilitators and leaders (4th Ed.). International Society for Technology in Education.


Kehoe, F. (2023). Leveraging generative AI tools for enhanced lesson planning in initial teacher

    education at post primary. Irish Journal of Technology Enhanced Learning, 7(2). 

    DOI: https://doi.org/10.22554/ijtel.v7i2.124

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