It seems that, unlike other technological revolutions, artificial intelligence is here to stay. The bombardment of AI is constant and is something that is present in all sectors: from the phones we have in our pockets, like the iPhone 16 (at some point, at least), the Pixel 9 or the Galaxy S24, to the use in nuclear power plants, through many other applications. And it is also helping us to be more productive. On the other hand, a big question is whether he will replace us at some point, and it seemed that, among the susceptible professions, teachers could rest easy.
A private school in London wants to shake that up and has started teaching classes in which artificial intelligence is the teacher. Your reasons? Offer students more precise and personalized learning.
AI rules. The use of artificial intelligence as a co-pilot or research partner is something really interesting. There are already those who are beginning to train scientists to optimize the use of AI so that it is the one that performs the most mechanical tests while they dedicate themselves to other tasks. These types of AI tools can be applied to almost any sector and are useful for lightening the workload on monotonous tasks, but at the David Game College, to be She is the one who calls the shots.
For now, AI is charge to teach classes in one of the courses for 20 students. And it will be for students who are preparing for the General Certificate of Secondary Education (the secondary education degree for students aged 15 and 16).
Virtual reality, of course. These students will have as school supplies a computer with an artificial intelligence platform and virtual reality headsets. And it is this AI platform that detects which level the student starts from, learns about their strengths and weaknesses and adapts their learning plan on a quarterly basis. The most complex ones will be at the end of the term, while the most accessible ones will begin to be addressed from the beginning of the course.
The price? 27,000 pounds. It may seem high, but the price of private schools and institutes in the United Kingdom ranges between 10,000 and 40,000 pounds, depending on the level of the center and its resources.
All advantages. The learning plan will be personalized to each student and John Dalton, co-director of David Game College, states that, although “there are many excellent teachers, we are all fallible.” It states that artificial intelligence systems can detect more effectively than a human whether a student is learning or not. Furthermore, he values these tools stating that “it is very difficult to achieve the level of precision and accuracy of AI, and also that continuous evaluation.”
“Learning Coaches”. There are students who agree with Dalton. One of them comments that “a teacher does not really know his defects because he has many students, but AI will discover what those defects are and help him improve.” Now, the AI will not be alone, since there are three “learning coaches” who will provide support to the students and are present to monitor behavior. They have not stated whether the behavior of the AI or the students.
What has been specified is that this education will be ideal for non-traditional students who prefer to learn outside of a traditional classroom environment or who have been educated at home and now want to start going to a center.
AI is not omnipotent. Does that mean the teachers are finished? No matter how much confidence the center has in artificial intelligence, it seems that it recognizes that there are tasks that AI cannot perform and it will be these ‘AI assistant professors’ who will teach the art classes, sexual education and other subjects in which AI has problems.
One of those teachers is Alexander Vansittart, a former Latin teacher who joins the AI assistant team and says he is excited about how much this “could do for young people in changing their lives.”
It’s going too far. As it could not be otherwise, the idea of a machine teaching the classes does not appeal to everyone. A teacher is not a mere Wikipedia, since he is in charge of many other things and Chris McGovern, a school principal who is now retired, believes that AI can have a role in the classroom, but that entrusting the education of young people to this tool is taking it too far.
McGovern comments that “the problem with AI and the computer screen is that it is a machine and therefore inert. This dehumanizes the learning process by eliminating interpersonal skills and interaction between students and teachers.” In addition, he complements with a reflection: “if we are going to follow only the path of AI, a bleak and soulless future awaits us.”
Money. Something that McGovern also states is that he understands the reasons, since schools will push this because it is cheaper. The center does not agree, since they have commented that they have hired more staff to be able to carry out the course.
And from the Government, the truth is that it seeks to promote the use of AI in the classroom as a tool and to give teachers “a helping hand“However, at David Game College, it is not a helping hand, but the one who calls the shots.
Image | David Game College
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