Classrooms in the UK are preparing to incorporate AI tools, with Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson posing a key question: will they save time? During a recent Education-sponsored Hackathon in Central London, developers showcased how these tools could streamline tasks such as editing student reports, enhancing sample writing, and evaluating the work of apprentice electricians. When Phillipson inquired about the time-saving potential of an AI writing analytics tool that could aggregate student writings, developers expressed confidence in their ability to address this concern.
In an interview with the Guardian, Phillipson emphasized the practical applications of AI in education, focusing on freeing up teachers’ time, enabling them to prioritize student engagement, and potentially addressing the staffing challenges in English schools. The aim is to integrate AI technology across schools to enhance educational outcomes and support professional development.
While some AI tools are designed for specific purposes, such as assessing the wiring work of trainee electricians, others like TeachScribe’s observational devices aim to track early childhood development. These innovations have the potential to revolutionize teaching practices, allowing teachers to spend more quality time with students.
Ewan Dobres, a developer, highlighted the time-saving benefits of AI tools for teachers, emphasizing the shift towards more personalized and efficient educational practices. Other tools showcased at the event included handwriting assessment tools that compare student work against national standards, as well as writing assessment tools that streamline the marking process while minimizing biases in evaluation.
Source: www.theguardian.com