How AI is impacting students in the modern world

With technology evolving faster than ever, we take a look at how AI in particular is affecting children

With the rapidly accelerating integration of artificial intelligence (AI) into our work, life, and classrooms, educators all over the world are re-evaluating the purpose of education in light of these outsized implications. The potential of AI to accelerate the transformation of education systems towards inclusive learning will prepare young people to thrive and shape a better future. It has been shown that teachers using these technologies have the chance to enhance their own teaching practice and professional experience.

Research has indicated that teaching students about AI is essential for developing digital literacy, and critical thinking skills, and preparing students for future academic and career success. A basic understanding of AI systems enables students to engage and ideate with AI technologies safely, responsibly, and ethically.

In a first-of-its-kind move, a school recently converted essays by students into AI-powered art. Billabong High International School in India showed just how powerful it can be when technology, creativity, and education come together seamlessly. The school transformed student creations into an AI-powered visual showcase, where 7 to 14-year-olds shared their uninhibited imagination as AI helped bring out the magic of their curious minds.

Above When used right, AI can aid in the learning process

Unlocking the potential of AI

Amy Ward, head of secondary at Garden International School, explains, “As a school, we have always valued and emphasised the importance of technology. We talk about emerging technologies in the context of new and evolving opportunities that technology provides us. The technology landscape is constantly changing, and we are excited rather than scared about the opportunities that lie ahead.”

This view is similarly shared by Tim Bottomley, assistant principal of Learning & Teaching (Primary Campus) of Alice Smith School, who believes that AI tools have the potential to revolutionise education, opening doors to new and exciting ways of learning. “Interactive AI tools and technology can create dynamic learning experiences, fostering the 21st-century skills of creativity and innovation. The human touch of teachers remains vital for motivation, social-emotional learning, and fostering well-rounded individuals. We encourage students to explore different paths with courage and curiosity in an environment that empowers them to make an impact as their best selves,” adds Bottomley.

Technology has already changed the educational landscape from what it looked like 20 years ago, and AI is already beginning to change the classrooms of today and tomorrow. Teachers across the world are excited about generative AI’s ability to perform tasks and answer questions quickly, saving them time and effort. Meanwhile, students are excited about having a personal knowledge assistant at their fingertips. This means at times when they may not have direct access to their teacher, they can still have access to an assistant who can answer their questions in a detailed and interactive way.

James Collinson, head of Faculty, Science & Design Technology (Secondary Campus) of Alice Smith School, says, “From the research and experimentation of Alice Smith teachers, we have identified that AI can be an invaluable tool in assisting certain tasks that teachers perform daily. The use of AI offers the opportunity to streamline time-consuming administrative tasks, allowing us to increase the time we can spend with students doing the things we love: developing relationships, personalising learning and planning high-quality, transformative learning experiences.”

Above Newer hardware are also on the rise to complement the software upgrades

AI for education

At the same time, teachers can use these technologies to enhance their teaching practice and professional experience. In a school like Alice Smith School, students are encouraged to use school-created GPT chatbots. Collinson shares, “The advantage of these is that our highly skilled teachers can provide the content which the chatbot can build its knowledge base around. This means students do not have access to the entire web in the responses they receive. For example, the Physics team at the Secondary Campus has a chatbot for A-Level students which can answer questions about the entire A-Level curriculum interactively using natural language. This allows students to have questions answered in an age-appropriate and curriculum-specific manner.”

He adds that many teachers and students have fully embraced generative AI tools, realising their potential and experimenting with ways to integrate these powerful tools into their workflows. “We are fortunate that some of our teachers are at the cutting-edge of how AI can be utilised to transform student experiences. As with any significant change, there will be variations in abilities and comfort, and we are addressing these differences with regular training and development,” says Collinson.

It is particularly important to ensure that teachers have the knowledge and strategies they will need to use this new technology. In fact, it is vital in helping teachers improve and streamline everyday processes as well as classroom implementation. Garden International School places emphasis on professional learning among its teachers, investing significant time and financial resources to support them in their growth and development.

AI will not replace direct instruction or teacher interaction but instead serve as an additional resource to enrich the educational experience (Photo: Getty Images)

Above AI will not replace direct instruction or teacher interaction but instead serve as an additional resource to enrich the educational experience (Photo: Getty Images)

According to Ward, “In our curriculum, we start teaching AI in year 8, beginning with machine learning using ideas such as understanding things like how Netflix recommends videos to us. We then move into teaching AI and the development of chatbots. As students advance to upper school, we teach them on the ethics of AI while the coding students learn how to use computer vision.

“Student projects, such as piloting to read number plates to identify members of our community as cars approach the school grounds, are also encouraged. In collaboration with MIT, we have also helped develop chatbots to support coding in lessons and the wider curriculum. In upper secondary, we have a number of bespoke, in-house written elective courses with a focus on emerging technologies and the development of future-ready skills.”

Ward shares that other implementations of AI in the school include using AI to create motivational custom imagery and provide visual context to learning. Furthermore, providing appropriate language levels and instant assessment opportunities with real-time feedback has benefited both students and teachers in learning.

She adds, “We use AI for live translations in class to support learning, as well as translating documents and videos into multiple languages for our diverse community. Students are benefiting from more personalised learning resources, and the ability for self-directed learning and receiving tailored support for learning has grown. AI has given us the ability to further understand the limitations of technology and encourages us all to ask questions about the tools around us.

“A local AI is used for students to practise in a safe environment. Our collaboration with Apple allows us to continue working on app development, which incorporates AI in its design and leads the way in app teaching and training across Southeast Asia.”

Bottomley believes that AI will not replace direct instruction or teacher interaction but instead serve as an additional resource to enrich the educational experience. “The influx of AI tools in education is a game-changer, particularly when viewed through the lens of 21st-century skill needs. The world is changing at breakneck speed, and the jobs of tomorrow require a unique skill set. Research shows us that critical thinking, creativity, problem-solving, communication, collaboration, and global citizenship comprise this skill set. By embracing AI, we can become a launchpad for students to develop the critical 21st-century skills they need to not just survive, but thrive in the exciting, ever-evolving world they’ll lead,” he adds.

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