AI is here to stay. So what is human intelligence in a world where AI exists?
AI is a powerful tool that mimics human intelligence with the ability to improve itself through machine learning. It processes large amounts of data, finds patterns, and performs tasks like creating schedules much faster than humans.
Where do humans excel?
Humans have a point of view. We can take the information we have and make decisions while looking for meaning. People can understand abstract concepts such as beauty, ethics, truth, and kindness.
Given this situation, how can we prepare our children and ourselves for the future?
AI and education
Teaching and learning should be different.
We should not fear AI. A complete ban on school use is the wrong policy. But so is its unrestricted and unregulated use. So let’s teach kids to question the answers given and use AI while validating claims. This is a great skill in any situation.
According to a recent article published by The Guardian, a university professor recently discovered several students using AI to completely write their class papers. Instead of punishing the students, the professor talked to them one-on-one and asked them why they used AI instead of writing their own papers. This was probably the right step, but this kind of conversation should be done before the assignment.
No one would go wrong with using AI to help these students generate ideas or identify when they used the passive rather than the active voice. AI can be used in the following ways.
Khan Academy is also leveraging AI to personalize student learning on its platform. It’s early, but you’ll get feedback sooner than most teachers.
role of teacher
The rapid development of AI can and should transform both public schools and higher education. Teachers, whether parents or professionals, have the opportunity to move into the role of mentor. That’s what the previous professor did.
Mentors can guide students through the use of AI. Discuss ethical use. Explore its capabilities together. It teaches students to question the answers by pointing out the shortcomings of something like ChatGPT.
But more importantly, the mentor not only checks to see if the student has given the correct answer, but also has the opportunity to discuss the student’s answer one-on-one. Mentors can ask questions to get students to think more about their work and reasoning.
One thing is certain: education cannot be effective if it remains standardized.
Children should be taught creativity, problem solving and critical thinking. They should be taught to ask questions for answers. This is how education adapts to her AI world.
AI will continue to take on more complex tasks. AI developers will fix the current flaws. Knowing how to use AI effectively is therefore a powerful skill. Using it ethically will be a force for humanity.
John Englund is a former public school teacher and principal, and an education policy analyst at the Libertas Institute of Utah.
