The push for schools to incorporate AI into the education system has surged in recent years, especially with AI models like ChatGPT becoming increasingly popular. Students have started to heavily utilise AI models for many aspects of their learning, but the question remainds: does AI belong in schools?

If implemented correctly, AI could significantly impact the learning process for students and would make teacher’s jobs much easier by minimising the preparation time for classes, whilst still being able to deliver the content in an engaging manner.

Paul Matthews and Jacob Skierka have attempted to incorporate AI into schools with their program, MyTeacherAide. AI allows teachers to generate rubrics, simplify text to make it easier for students to understand at various levels, question generators to make more interactive lessons and simplify lesson planning to make it more efficient for teachers to organise classes. Programs that attempt to do this use AI in a meaningful way, which allows teachers to focus more on making engaging classes rather than trying to keep up with the curriculum.

The integration of technology in education was initially met with skepticism. Yet, now, calculators and electric screens are expected in most classes, with these large inventions being used to better education and AI should be treated as just another tool. According to CSIRO’s reports on AI in education, it was used most effectively when complementing regular teaching methods instead of replacing them. AI would be able to focus on students much more and give personalised feedback at their request, making it more efficient than having one teacher in that regard.

Nonetheless, it’s important to remain aware of the risks associated with implementing AI in schools. The teachers can use AI responsibly, but students may abuse AI and end up learning nothing. Using AI means students have access to spoon-fed answers as opposed to thinking about problems logically. Teachers may need to be educated about how to use AI, and how to monitor the students’ progress and whether they are actually learning.

Implementing AI in the school system would definitely be a challenge, but it is a change that deserves to happen as AI could serve a key role in education in the near future. The way it should be used is to simply make it a tool, and make it be just another technological advancement to better the learning of many.