The first time I heard school leaders talking about AI was a little over a year ago. That conversation was about this thing called ChatGPT and what they were going to do about students using it to write assignments. “Back to pens and paper” was the battle cry I heard then and have heard since. Just as it’s true that horse breeders were wary of the first cars and that the emergence of the Luddites arose in response to early automation of the weaving industry, many educators perceive AI as an imminent threat to traditional pedagogy.
The increasing prevalence and accessibility of AI are nurturing divergent viewpoints. Some teachers and school leaders reject its role altogether, fearing the demise of human agency and the dilution of a reliable and established system. Others have cautiously adopted AI tools but are yet to fully understand how this technology might enhance connection with students, support diverse needs, and, ultimately, create a more individualised and egalitarian system.
But, of course, the real question for the sector right now, is: are we preparing young people with the competencies necessary to navigate an AI-integrated world, one filled with complex global challenges that most curricula don’t currently recognise?
Choices for the education system are fast evolving into a roundabout of possible destinations. Content and knowledge are becoming increasingly accessible and decentralised, and young people are more empowered than ever to choose that content based on their personal interests. AI will continue to provide powerful educational tools, automating administrative tasks, giving real-time assessments, analysing learning patterns, identifying student strengths and helping make education more individualised for each learner.
