Despite how relatively new the technology is, artificial intelligence is already seeing widespread use in school districts nationwide. However, there are three areas in which AI has yet to prove itself capable of improving.
Educators around the world see immense potential for AI to boost academics, encourage career readiness and improve students’ ability to read in their preferred language, according to a new survey from McGraw Hill. But teachers are skeptical that the technology can help improve mental health, empathy and social skills, each of which is a top priority for educators.
“While I am optimistic about efficiency gains AI provides for both students and instructors, we need to ensure that we use the time that AI ‘gives’ us to great effect—more personal interactions to ensure that new generations of students are even more capable than before, rather than less capable by leaving everything to AI,” according to one college professor quoted in the report.
Skepticism isn’t keeping teachers from using the technology to streamline tasks. Some 30% of teachers say they already use generative AI. Another 21% expect to use it next year. Most importantly, nearly 60% of educators say generative AI is helping them save three to five hours per week.
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The best artificial intelligence platforms
AI is “revolutionizing how teachers engage students,” wrote Dan Fitzpatrick, a best-selling author on AI, in a Forbes column last year. He reached out to classroom teachers on multiple social media platforms to find out which AI platforms (that aren’t ChatGPT) are having the most impact in their classrooms.
If you’re looking for tools that have improved student outcomes in other districts, check out the tools recommended to Fitzpatrick by educators:
- Brisk Teaching (AI assistant for teachers)
- SchoolAI (personalized instruction)
- Diffit (class material differentiator)
- Curipod (lesson plan generator)
- Skybox by Blockade Labs in ThingLink (360-degree environment generator)
- Ideogram (text-to-image model)
