HOW TO HELP EDUCATORS FEEL HEARD, SUPPORTED, AND EMPOWERED TO ADDRESS THE ROLE OF AI IN EDUCATION

Artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming every aspect of our lives, from work to leisure, from health to entertainment. Education is no exception. AI has the potential to address some of the biggest challenges in education today, such as access, quality, equity, and relevance. It can also help foster the skills and values that students need to navigate and shape the future, such as creativity, critical thinking, collaboration, and empathy.

However, AI also poses significant risks and challenges for education, such as ethical, legal, social, and pedagogical implications. How can we ensure that AI is used in a way that respects human rights, promotes inclusion and diversity, and enhances human capacities? How can we prepare students for a world where they will interact with intelligent machines on a daily basis? How can we equip teachers with the knowledge, skills, and tools to integrate AI into their teaching practice and professional development?

These are some of the questions that educators around the world are facing as they grapple with the role of AI in education. In this blog post, we will explore some of the ways that educators can feel heard, supported, and empowered to address these questions and leverage the opportunities that AI offers for education.

Listen to educators' voices and perspectives

One of the first steps to help educators feel heard is to listen to their voices and perspectives on AI and education. Educators are not only the key stakeholders in education systems, but also the ones who have direct experience and insights into the realities and needs of their students, schools, and communities. Their opinions and feedback are essential for informing policy-making, research, innovation, and evaluation of AI in education.

However, educators often feel excluded or marginalized from the discussions and decisions that affect their profession and practice. According to a recent survey by UNESCO¹, only 28% of teachers reported being consulted on AI policies or initiatives in their countries. Moreover, only 37% of teachers felt confident about their understanding of AI and its implications for education.

Therefore, it is crucial to create more opportunities and platforms for educators to share their views and concerns about AI and education, as well as their aspirations and expectations. For example, UNESCO has launched a global consultation on the ethics of AI in education², inviting educators and other stakeholders to contribute their inputs and suggestions for developing ethical principles and guidelines for AI in education. Similarly, Teach For All³ has organized a series of dialogues with educators from different countries and contexts to explore how they are using AI tools to enhance their teaching practice and student learning.

By listening to educators' voices and perspectives, we can gain a better understanding of their needs and challenges, as well as their hopes and visions. We can also recognize and appreciate their contributions and achievements in using AI for education.

Provide educators with support and resources

Another way to help educators feel supported is to provide them with adequate support and resources to integrate AI into their teaching practice and professional development. Educators need access to quality training, guidance, tools, data, networks, and recognition to effectively use AI for education.

However, many educators face barriers and gaps in accessing these resources. According to the UNESCO survey¹, only 23% of teachers reported receiving training on AI or related topics. Moreover, only 26% of teachers felt confident about their ability to use AI tools or applications in their teaching practice.

Therefore, it is vital to invest more in building educators' capacity and competence on AI and education. This includes providing them with relevant and up-to-date knowledge on the concepts, principles, applications, and implications of AI for education; developing their skills on how to select, use, evaluate, adapt, create, and teach with AI tools; offering them guidance and support on how to address ethical, legal, social, and pedagogical issues related to AI in education; equipping them with tools and data that are accessible, affordable, reliable, and secure; connecting them with networks and communities of practice that can offer peer learning, collaboration, and exchange; recognizing and rewarding their efforts and achievements in using AI for education.

For example, UNESCO has developed a publication aimed at fostering the readiness of education policy-makers in artificial intelligence. This publication, Artificial Intelligence and Education: Guidance for Policy-makers, will be of interest to practitioners and professionals in the policy-making and education communities. It aims to generate a shared understanding of the opportunities and challenges that AI offers for education, as well as its implications for the core competencies needed in the AI era.

Similarly, Teach For All and the LEGO Foundation have partnered to support educators in using AI tools to foster students' holistic development and make teaching more fulfilling. They have also created a toolkit that provides practical examples and tips on how to use AI tools such as ChatGPT to promote students' critical thinking, creativity, and collaboration.

By providing educators with support and resources, we can enable them to use AI for education in a way that is effective, ethical, and empowering. We can also help them to enhance their own professional growth and satisfaction.

Empower educators to shape the role of AI in education

A third way to help educators feel empowered is to empower them to shape the role of AI in education. Educators are not only the users of AI tools, but also the co-creators and influencers of AI in education. They have the potential to innovate, experiment, and advocate for AI in education that is aligned with their values, goals, and contexts.

However, many educators face constraints and challenges in exercising their agency and influence on AI and education. According to the UNESCO survey¹, only 18% of teachers reported being involved in the design, development, or testing of AI tools or applications for education. Moreover, only 21% of teachers felt confident about their ability to influence AI policies or initiatives in their countries.

Therefore, it is essential to create more spaces and opportunities for educators to shape the role of AI in education. This includes involving them in the co-design, co-development, and co-evaluation of AI tools that are relevant, responsive, and respectful of their needs, preferences, and contexts; encouraging them to experiment and innovate with AI tools that can enhance their teaching practice and student learning; supporting them to advocate and mobilize for AI policies and initiatives that are inclusive, equitable, and human-centered.

For example, UNESCO has launched a global initiative on AI-powered learning that aims to empower educators and learners to co-create and use AI tools for learning that are aligned with the SDG 4 agenda. The initiative also seeks to foster a global community of practice and innovation on AI-powered learning. Similarly, Teach For All has established a network-wide innovation fund that supports educators and alumni to develop and scale innovative solutions that leverage AI and other emerging technologies to address educational challenges in their contexts.

By empowering educators to shape the role of AI in education, we can ensure that AI is used in a way that reflects their vision and values. We can also help them to become leaders and change-makers in the AI era.

Conclusion

AI is a powerful force that can transform education for the better or for the worse. The role of educators is crucial in determining the direction and impact of this transformation. Therefore, we need to help educators feel heard, supported, and empowered to address the role of AI in education. By doing so, we can harness the potential of AI for education that is inclusive, equitable, and human-centered.

References

Conversation with Bing, 7/15/2023

(1) Artificial intelligence in education | UNESCO. https://www.unesco.org/en/digital-education/artificial-intelligence.

(2) How AI can transform education for students and teachers | World .... https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2023/05/ai-accelerate-students-holistic-development-teaching-fulfilling.

(3) Generative Artificial Intelligence in education: What are the ... - UNESCO. https://www.unesco.org/en/articles/generative-artificial-intelligence-education-what-are-opportunities-and-challenges.