Can Artificial Intelligence Replace a Teacher in the Classroom?

Hello, Sherpa Robotics is on the line. Today we have translated for you an article dedicated to the influence of AI on the educational process in schools. We all know about the shortage of teachers and the deterioration in the quality of knowledge acquired by graduates. And these problems concern not only the parents of children, but also each of us: after all, former students are our future colleagues. The opportunities that artificial intelligence opens up for students would have seemed fantastic 10 years ago. And now it looks like a good solution to the personnel crisis in the field of education.
For a brief overview of AI-powered educational tools, check out this article published in The Economist.

In 1913, Thomas Edison predicted the imminent end of books in schools, arguing that they would be replaced by movies. A century on, his prophecy appears to be coming true, but not quite in the way he expected.

Today, artificial intelligence (AI) is penetrating the educational process, offering new tools and opportunities for learning. For example, consider Khanmigo, an AI toolkit designed for students and teachers.

Khanmigo is not just a set of boring programs, but a real portal to the world of knowledge. It can communicate with you in the role of Thomas Edison, Albert Einstein, Winston Churchill or even a fictional character – Captain Ahab, who will tell you about his whale hunt.

But that's not all! Khanmigo can solve math problems, helping you figure it out every step of the way, and even write science fiction. Yes, you heard right!

By interacting with AI, you can create texts, solve problems, and immerse yourself in dialogues with great minds of the past.

And this is just the beginning! AI is advancing rapidly, opening up new horizons in education. But how big a role will AI play in the schools of the future? And should we be afraid of machines replacing teachers?

The modern education system resembles a conveyor belt; teachers are forced to teach the material at a uniform pace, focusing on the average student. This creates problems: some are bored, others fall behind, and the system is not always able to take into account the individual needs of each.

This is where AI comes in. It can be a powerful tool to make learning more personalized.

For example, in mathematics:

1. Standard courses combine group lessons with independent work using software.

2. Algorithm-driven programs select exercises individually for each student.

3. Teachers can use these programs as an alternative to homework, freeing up time for group activities.

But don't think that AI is a magic wand that will solve all educational problems.

Initially, AI was used primarily to teach math, reading, and science. But today, it is also making inroads into the humanities, changing the way we think about “traditional” education.

Khanmigo, for example, can already conduct conversations about literature.

However, not everything is so simple.

1. Artificial intelligence is still not perfect. It can make mistakes in calculations, invent facts, and this is unacceptable in the educational process.

2. The problem of motivation needs to be addressed. Many students do not want to learn on their own, even with the help of AI.

3. And finally, don't forget about the benefits of group learning.

Many people believe that AI will be able to completely replace teachers, but most experts agree that this is not the case.

Dan Mayer, a former math teacher who now works in educational technology, says, “You can spend trillions of dollars trying to convince kids and teachers that they'll learn better without each other, but they'll all say, 'I don't think so.'”

Children come to school to find answers to two main questions: “How to do this?” and “Who am I?”

School is not only about education, but also about personality development.

Rather than replacing teachers entirely, AI could become a powerful tool to complement the traditional education system.

Here are some examples.

1. Help with lesson planning. Programs like MagicSchool and TeachMate can create tests, paraphrase texts for different levels of comprehension, and generate letters to parents.

2. Lesson Effectiveness Analysis. TeachFX analyzes audio recordings of lessons, providing teachers with statistics on how long they spoke, how many questions they asked, how much time they gave students to answer.

3. Helping with distance learning: Stanford University is developing software that will guide tutors on how to best interact with students during online classes.

4. Managing Group Work: The University of Colorado is developing an “AI partner” that will monitor group discussions, helping students when they get stuck and engaging the teacher when things get too complicated.

Many compare the modern education system to “dinosaurs”, assuming that AI will be a revolution that will change everything. But in reality, AI will be more of an evolution, helping to make the traditional system more efficient.

Technology shouldn’t change everything. Instead, it should help schools do what they’ve been doing for years, but better. AI can be a powerful tool for improving education, but it shouldn’t replace teachers.