Evolving Electronic Education
Examining Changing Technologies in Teaching
In 1983, the clacking of typewriter keys filled classrooms for the first time, gradually replacing the steady scratch of graphite against paper. By 2010, sleek, portable laptops had replaced bulky monitors and desktop computers. Fast-forward to 2022, and the generation of words across a screen has become effortless, saving countless hours of work. Both students and educators alike wonder what’s next in this world, which is rapidly overtaken by technology.
In recent years, artificial intelligence (AI) has taken the world by storm. It has weaseled its way into every facet of society, from creative expression to information systems and everything in between.
“Basically, [AI is] trying to make a computer do what a human mind can do,” explained Rusty Ogburn, Texarkana Independent School District’s (TISD) Director of Information Technology (IT). “It’s trying to make software that mimics people’s thinking and learning processes.”
Almost everything we do online can be linked back to AI. Predictive text in writing platforms and tools like Grammarly, which check for grammar and readability, are just a few examples of AI’s pervasive presence.
“AI has been around for decades, but what we have seen emerge in the last couple of years has been generative AI, which is AI that is able to generate brand new content–images, text, video, etc.–based upon the data it was trained on,” noted Emily Szymanski, TISD’s IT coordinator.
The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated society’s dependence on technology. During the height of the pandemic, the use of technology became an absolute necessity and now people cannot imagine life without it.
“I think the biggest change since COVID is that it forced everybody to be technologically savvy,” said TISD English teacher Kara Wicks. “People who never even used G-Suite before had to learn how to use Google Forms and other tools. And so, when everybody went remote, I think that was a huge shift in education.”
Physically, classrooms have transformed dramatically. Chalkboards have given way to whiteboards, which have further evolved into projectors. Students have replaced pencils and paper with Chromebooks. However, the actual content students learn, regardless of the technology used, remains mostly the same.
With AI’s increasing use, its future impact on society remains uncertain, though it is clear that it will significantly alter how we function.
“You know how the Industrial Revolution really changed the way governments were run, changed the way we interacted with each other, and changed what we considered a job,” Wicks said. “I think AI will be that, possibly. I don’t know what it’s going to look like, but it looks like it’s going to change the way we do things completely.”
There are many advantages to AI that many haven’t even considered. With older generations retiring and younger generations joining the workforce, gaps in learning can occur. Artificial intelligence can help answer questions and identify problems for newly hired employees.
“It could help them identify students who may have needs that they didn’t recognize right off the bat, particularly for younger teachers who aren’t as experienced,” Ogburn said. “That’s a big deal because we have a lot of people retiring, and a lot of your baby boomers are leaving, and over the next five years, that gap is going to have to be filled. And the numbers don’t quite add up. So, there’s going to be problems filling positions, and it’s not just in teaching; it is coming in every aspect.”
Debates over the pros and cons of advancing technology will continue to persist, even once we’ve moved past the hype surrounding AI. A new form of technology will inevitably come to take its place; that’s simply how the world of innovation works.
“Over the years, technology has gotten a lot faster. It’s gotten to the point where technology is no longer about convenience; it’s really more about connection,” said TISD technology teacher, Mark Ahrens. “If you’re going to use technology in any capacity meant for connective reasons and not necessarily for educational purposes, which I guess is good in some ways but bad in others.”
As AI continues to evolve and students find new uses for it, the chance of it being used unethically increases. The concerns regarding cheating existed long before the widespread use of artificial intelligence and technology. With the emergence of AI, students are just provided with another way to receive answers unethically.
“I think that these are concerns that have always been there,” Wicks said. “Each time we’re faced with a new technology, we kind of have to devise new strategies about how to face this new tool. The same issue, new tool.”
On the other hand, it’s nearly impossible to prove that something was not AI-generated, especially as AI continues to improve its capabilities of mimicking human speech. We’ve reached a point where it’s a toss-up whether something was produced by a human or a computer, so there are also students unjustly accused of using AI to complete assignments.
“I think there is always a fear that students will rely on AIgenerated information rather than their original work or that students will trust AI-generated information without proper verification,” Szymanski said. “Digital literacy and AI education are crucial in addressing these concerns.”
With the increased use of AI in completing assignments inside and outside of classrooms, teachers worry about student’s overdependence on the applications, resulting in the loss of originality and critical thinking skills.
“I think some fears are that students will lose their critical thinking abilities and that they’ll choose a crutch,” Wicks said. “These high school years are really important for learning those critical thinking skills, and if students skip that step, then they are really cheating themselves. We are going to be producing weak-minded students who don’t know how to think about anything on their own.”
Currently, no official policies against the use of artificial intelligence exist at most district or state levels, and AI-detecting software is still developing. For now, teachers must stay vigilant and be aware that AI might be used in their classrooms.
“You have just got to monitor and be aware of what’s going on, and you don’t necessarily have to stress all the negatives,” Ahrens said. “But just be aware that you know if it’s in use, just like everything else. Knowledge is power.”
The US government has released several bills and an executive order regarding AI regulation, but discussions about policies within schools continue at the federal level. According to a United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization press release, only 7% of schools reported having formal policies on generative AI use, and most policies that exist prohibit AI use altogether.
“This will likely be regulated at the federal or state level,” Ogburn said. “We will have to fall in line with that.”
As AI continues to develop, its widespread use will bring inevitable changes.
“It [AI] is still growing and developing. I do see it progressing quickly. Within three years or so, it will be exponentially better than it is now, and it will take forms that we have not even thought of yet.”
AI in Education Facts Based on Recent Research and Reports
Adoption and Market Growth—The global market value of AI in education was over $2 billion in 2021 and is expected to grow by over 45% annually, reaching around $80 billion by 2030. This growth is driven by increased investment in ed-tech and AI, growing partnerships with educational content providers, and the rising use of cloudbased services (Soocial) (businessolution.org).
Personalized Learning—AI-powered educational tools can adapt to individual student needs, providing personalized learning experiences. This helps students learn at their own pace and improves their understanding of the material. Personalized learning has been shown to increase student engagement by 47% and improve academic performance by 23% (AI News).
Student Engagement—AI technologies, such as virtual reality and gamification, make learning more interactive and engaging, which helps stimulate students’ interest and motivation, improving their overall learning outcomes (AI News).
AI-Powered Virtual Tutors—AI-powered virtual tutors provide personalized learning experiences, delivering tailored content and feedback. These tutors can continuously collect and analyze data on student performance, identifying areas where students may need additional support (AI News).
Legislative Actions—Legislative bodies in 127 countries passed 37 laws related to AI in 2023, addressing issues such as non-discrimination, accountability in AI algorithms, and education reforms to meet AI-related challenges (Stanford HAI).
AI in Classroom Management—AI can assist with classroom management and administrative tasks like grading, scheduling, and lesson planning. This not only saves time for educators but also enhances the efficiency of educational institutions (ClassPoint). These facts illustrate both the transformative potential and the ongoing challenges associated with integrating AI into educational systems. For further reading and detailed information, you can refer to the sources mentioned.
