The beginning
With the rise of tools and technologies that are able to do or contribute to our day-to-day tasks, people fear the capability of machines to develop human-like skills. With the apparition of Artificial Intelligence and ChatGPT, an irreversible change took place in our lives and there is a chance that we didn’t even notice it at the time.
In November 2015 the Open AI company was funded and back then we didn’t even dream of the change they were going to bring to our digital world. Fast forward to 2023, ChatGPT has been active since autumn 2022 and we are still not sure how to deal with it.
Schools worldwide have had mixed feelings about the tool that can replace hard work and consciousness in students. While some love the initiative and innovative nature of AI, others have felt threatened by its use.
Spark and AI
So what does Spark think about the use of AI in Education? It’s enough to say that we are currently conducting a fundraising campaign where we are raising money in order to keep innovation in education alive. Our objective in this round is to secure funding to support the ongoing product development, which is equipped to integrate AI capabilities through machine learning and intelligent automation.
So, shortly, we love it! We think of Artificial Intelligence as not a threat but as an opportunity to revolutionise and smoothen the Educational experience of our students.
Benefits
Here are 3 reasons why Spark (or any school) could benefit from using AI:
Automation – we all have logistical or repetitive tasks that we could do with our eyes closed, even if someone wakes us in the middle of the night. These are tasks that could be easily replaced by an AI. For example, drafting emails to parents with grade reports, taking attendance, or keeping track of students’ progress are all tasks that an AI could help with, thus freeing up time for more interactive activities or classes.
Critical Thinking – students might get access to a pool of information, but there’s no additional SuperChatGPT to tell them what percentage of that information is correct. Critical thinking and analytical skills are things that students using ChatGPT might develop in trying to research information while keeping track of fake information and mistakes, as even ChatGPT is not perfect.
Tailored processes – at Spark we focus greatly on providing our students with a tailored experience based on their interests and needs. It comes naturally to think that we’d also like to have platforms and teaching methods that support this way of teaching. With the use of AI, we could tailor any platform or tool to focus on personalising each experience based on the personal information and progress of each student.
What other ways of integrating Artificial Intelligence into your teaching can you think of?
Threats
Even though this new tool might seem frightening, we need to look around and realise that information is easier to access day by day. If we fear ChatGPT so much, maybe we should focus more on teaching younger generations how to think for themselves so that they are able to separate true facts from false ones – just think of the countless images generated by DALL-E that were presumed to be true real-life photos at first.
However, the threat of students using AI to complete school tasks should also not be ignored. We know how tempting it must be to be able to have your assignments created at the push of a button. But one of the main reasons for which AI will never be able to replace human intelligence is its inability to think critically or to separate right from wrong. Yes, they might have access to lots of information, but they do not have the human capacity to understand that information thoroughly or describe emotions accurately, because they are not human.
Thus, we should keep in mind that even though AI poses as a mighty good, we should not take advantage of it to prove our abilities. If we rely on AI to think for us, we stop developing skills like critical thinking, creative thinking, the ability to analyze thoroughly, and so on. The use of a tool as powerful as this one should be an opportunity to develop ourselves or have fun with it in our own time, without using it for unethical purposes that can pose a threat to our professional future selves.
The future of AI at Spark
At Spark, we will always encourage and support innovation and digitalization, and we are never sleeping on tools or technologies that could have an impact on the educational journey of our students.
New tools will emerge and digitalization will keep on happening, so we want to make sure that we teach our students to adapt to all these changes, and moreover, use them to their advantage. If anything, Open AI is here to stay, and we have a feeling that this is just the beginning.
Ready to join us in welcoming AI into the future of Education?
AI in Education FAQ
1. What is Artificial Intelligence?
Artificial Intelligence (AI) refers to the simulation of human intelligence in machines that are programmed to perform tasks that typically require human-like reasoning, learning, and decision-making. AI systems can be trained to recognize patterns, make predictions, and solve problems based on large amounts of data.
2. How can AI be integrated into Education?
AI can be integrated into education in a variety of ways, such as personalized learning, intelligent tutoring systems, and grading automation. AI-powered tools and platforms can provide customized learning experiences for students based on their individual needs, interests, and learning styles.
3. Why is AI relevant for the future of education?
AI is relevant for the future of education because it has the potential to transform the way we teach and learn. With the help of AI-powered tools and platforms, educators can provide personalized learning experiences for students, offer real-time feedback and support, and free up time for more creative and collaborative activities.
AI can also help identify areas where students may need additional support or intervention, and assist educators in making data-driven decisions to improve student outcomes. As the use of AI in education continues to grow, it has the potential to enhance the quality of education and prepare students for the complex and rapidly changing world of the future.
4. Why you should NOT use AI to do your schoolwork?
While AI can be a useful tool for learning, using it to complete schoolwork can have negative consequences. For one, it can lead to academic dishonesty and undermine the integrity of your education. Additionally, relying too heavily on AI to complete your schoolwork can hinder your own learning and critical thinking skills. It’s important to engage with the material and actively participate in the learning process to fully understand and retain knowledge.
Ultimately, it’s important to use AI constructively and ethically and to prioritize your own learning and academic integrity.
