In today’s blog, I’ll be exploring the impact AI will have on teachers’ roles, the benefits of using AI as a teacher, and why AI will never be able to completely replace a human teacher.
What AI can do to support teachers
There’s an increasing number of different ways teachers can use AI in the classroom. Right now, you can use AI tools to mark homework, generate lesson plans, monitor student progress, and create immersive learning experiences for students, among other use cases. With the rapid pace of AI innovation, who knows what it could do in five or ten years?
These tools are saving considerable amounts of time for teachers, particularly when it comes to repetitive admin tasks. They can use the time saved to support their students, therefore enabling them to be better teachers.
AI can also help improve the learning experience, particularly for SEND students that need a more tailored teaching, like text-to-voice/voice-to-text tools, or personalised learning platforms that create resources and assessments that adapt to how they learn best. This can alleviate the challenge of providing a uniform learning experience for an entire class, for example, and ensure teachers satisfy everyone’s individual learning needs.
Some AI tools can do what humans can’t, as well, like eye-tracking software that assesses children’s reading ability and can help identify eye problems.
Using AI in the classroom therefore won’t mean replacing a teacher with software; instead, teachers will use AI to assist them. The trick is to find tools that work with you and to learn how to use them efficiently so they can quickly provide the additional support you need.
Why teachers are irreplaceable
Just like other jobs in other sectors, teachers’ roles may change, but because human connection is such an integral part of the job, replacing them entirely with AI won’t be feasible. In fact, it will likely result in a poor learning experience for your students.
Teachers aren’t just dispensers of information; they help facilitate learning by providing additional support. And with AI tools on their side to help get the information across in the most effective way and take care of their time-consuming tasks, teachers can provide more one to one support and better feedback to students.
The emotional support they can provide to students in need outside of learning cannot be replaced by AI, either. And with students needing more of this than ever with the current attendance crisis and mental health epidemic in schools, teachers and school staff have never been so important.
It’s also worth noting that every time new technology is introduced to the education sector, there are concerns of how it will impact teaching. Here’s an example: back in the early 2000s, a research project at the University of Bristol confirmed teachers were nervous about computers being in schools as they thought it could interfere with “genuine” book-based learning and that it should be only used for admin and routine tasks.
Today, computers and the internet are an integral part of school life. They haven’t made the role of the teacher redundant – rather, teachers have learned how to use them to improve the learning experience for students and teaching children essential computer skills is now a part of the curriculum.
The limitations of AI for teachers
It’s also important to bear in mind that AI, especially when used by children, should always be monitored by an adult to ensure it gives out accurate, appropriate information which isn’t biased. No matter how much AI is used in the classroom, someone always needs to be overseeing it to maximise its effectiveness and ensure the students are learning.
Some AI tools, like AI-grading software in particular, can produce inaccurate results which, if unchecked, can unfairly downgrade a high-quality piece of work or vice versa, as well.
Ultimately, AI will enhance learning and working throughout the school, but human checks are required at every step of the way.
It’s critical that teachers are fully aware of both the potential and the limitations of AI so that they can use it in a safe, ethical, and effective way. To learn more about the AI basics and how to start using AI in your school, read our AI in Education: From Curiosity to Confidence guide.
How teachers’ roles might change in the future
Just as AI will change your job, it will change future jobs that you’re preparing your students for. You need to make sure they can effectively and safely use AI, and give them skills that can’t be replaced with AI like critical thinking and emotional intelligence.
Want to learn more about the different ways to use AI in schools?
Join us in our next webinar – AI for Educators: Practical Use Cases for Schools – on May 2nd to find out more about using AI in your school. If you missed our first webinar AI in Education: From Curiosity to Confidence, click here to watch the recording.
