Artificial intelligence is forming a new way of teaching for teachers around the world. Teachers such as Mr. Tony Oldani are embracing a role for AI in the classroom. It does not work as a replacement but as a “digital teaching assistant.” After twenty years of teaching economics at Brophy College Preparatory, Mr. Oldani views AI as a collaborative tool rather than a threat to education.
“AI has been for me a really kind of cool digital TA,” Mr. Oldani said, describing how he uses it to develop ideas for his economics lessons, student council activities, and volleyball team practices. “I’ve basically tried to use it as kind of a virtual assistant and a brainstorm partner.”
While AI in education brings both opportunities and challenges, countries like China are already testing out AI robots in kindergarten classrooms to tell stories and come up with problems for the kids to solve.(edweek.org) Most teachers have not adopted this form of teaching and would rather keep a balance between using AI and using their own skills.
Schoolsthatlead.org said that AI can reduce teachers’ workload by handling regular tasks such as grading fixed-answer tests and providing writing feedback. This help from AI allows teachers to focus on coming up with more engaging classroom activities and also get ahead in lesson planning.
A study in 2024 by Carnegielearning.com, reported by EdTech Magazine, supports this positive impact of AI. Of the teachers using AI, 42% reported reduced time spent on classroom tasks, while 25% found benefits in student learning. 18% said that they saw improved student engagement, and 17% saw better learning outcomes. Only 1% of those who responded found no benefit in using AI in the classroom.
Mr. Oldani expresses concerns he sees about potential pushbacks. “I worry that it could stifle students’ creativity and students’ original thought,” Mr. Oldani said, thinking about the risk of students relying too much on AI for creative work. He is also concerned about how students and teachers at times could get stuck in the world of AI. “At times, I think one of the problems that we’ve seen with technology and teaching is we kind of find a new toy and then all of us use the new toy.”
The impact of AI on future jobs is something that is on teacher’s minds. “Virtually any job out there that requires analysis could be replaced by AI, which is kind of scary,” Oldani said. “It’s just a matter of how do we as humans demonstrate it as a tool to maintain our jobs versus kind of just allowing it to replace us.”
According to a Harvard Crimson survey, about two-thirds of students choose not to express their thoughts in academic settings because of fear of offending others. This highlights the importance of keeping the human connection and creating safe spaces for discussion in education.
“I don’t know that it can ever fully replace teaching,” Mr. Oldani said, the social aspect of school and teaching is something that a computer cannot take over. “I don’t know how AI could replace the social aspect of young people gathering and all those things.”
For teachers like Mr. Oldani, the path forward is clear. They should embrace AI as a tool while still keeping the irreplaceable human aspects of teaching. Mr. Oldani said, “We best prepare students for what the jobs are out there and how AI is evolving those.”