The Role of Teacher Preparation Programs Related to K-12 Students’ Future Utilization of AI

As the 2022-23 academic year draws to a close and summer begins, let’s discuss a few of the significant benefits and obvious risks posed by K-12 students’ utilization of artificial intelligence. Given the debate already forming about K-12 students' utilization of artificial intelligence, let us at least agree that there are benefits and risks. This discussion will therefore begin by reviewing only three of the more obvious benefits and three of the more agreed upon risks associated with their usage:

1. Benefits of Personalized Learning: AI can provide personalized learning experiences tailored to individual students' needs and learning styles. By analyzing data such as performance, progress, and preferences, AI algorithms can adapt instructional content, pace, and difficulty levels to optimize learning outcomes. This personalized approach enhances engagement, promotes self-paced learning, and helps students grasp concepts more effectively.
2. Benefits of Enhanced Access to Education: Clearly, AI can bridge the gap in educational resources by providing access to quality education for students who might otherwise face geographical, financial, or physical barriers. Through online platforms and AI-powered tools, students can access educational content, participate in virtual classrooms, and receive personalized tutoring from anywhere, promoting inclusivity and enabling equitable education opportunities.
3. Benefits from Analyzing Student Performance and Needs: Potentially, AI can analyze vast amounts of student data and generate actionable insights for educators. By evaluating patterns and trends, AI algorithms can identify students' strengths, weaknesses, and areas where they may need additional support. This information will enable teachers to provide targeted interventions and design customized learning plans, facilitating effective teaching and ideally resulting in student success.

 

1. Security and Data Privacy Risks: For example, the utilization of AI in K-12 education involves the collection and analysis of large amounts of student data. This raises concerns about data privacy and security. If not properly managed, there is a risk of unauthorized access, data breaches, or misuse of sensitive student information. It is crucial to implement robust security measures and strict data protection protocols to mitigate these risks.
2. Bias and Discrimination Risks: For example. AI systems are trained on large datasets, and if those datasets contain biases, the AI algorithms may perpetuate and amplify these biases. This can result in discriminatory outcomes, such as biased grading, biased recommendations, or reinforcing existing inequalities in education. Careful attention must be given to the development and training of AI systems to ensure they are fair, unbiased, and promote diversity and inclusivity.
3. Reduced Human Interaction and Skills Risks: For example, increased reliance upon AI in K-12 education may lead to reduced human interaction between students and teachers or students and students. While AI can offer personalized learning experiences, it cannot fully replace the valuable aspects of human interaction, including emotional support, critical thinking development, and social skills. Overdependence on AI could therefore potentially hinder students' ability to develop essential interpersonal skills and emotional intelligence.

If we recognize and address the risks associated with AI in K-12 education while leveraging the significant benefits AI offers to teaching and learning, might we be more apt to embrace the potential to increase K-12 students’ research skills, promote their critical thinking, or encourage innovation and collaboration rather than merely viewing students’ utilization of AI as a form of cheating? Proper governance, transparency, and ongoing evaluation will certainly be necessary for the responsible and ethical use of AI technologies in the educational context. So, how can teacher preparation programs embrace the benefits while mitigating risks by preparing teacher candidates and educational leaders to share knowledge about artificial intelligence and promote engagement between educators concerning the potential of AI and encouraging forward-thinking technology policies for utilization of artificial intelligence in education?

Yes, teacher preparation programs must play a critical role in equipping teachers and educational leaders with the necessary knowledge and skills to navigate the benefits and risks of artificial intelligence in education. Following are six ways teacher preparation programs can begin addressing benefits and risks posed by K-12 students’ utilization of artificial intelligence.  The six are meant to begin, not end the discussion:

1. Curriculum Integration: Teacher preparation programs should integrate AI-related topics into their curricula to familiarize future educators with AI concepts, applications, and their implications in the classroom. This can include courses or modules specifically dedicated to AI in education, covering topics such as AI ethics, data privacy, and AI-supported instructional strategies.
2. Professional Development: Teacher preparation programs should provide ongoing professional development opportunities for in-service teachers to enhance their understanding of AI and its role in education. These programs can offer workshops, webinars, or conferences to introduce teachers to AI tools, showcase best practices, and engage them in discussions about the benefits and risks associated with AI utilization.
3. Ethical Considerations and Policy Development: Teacher preparation programs can educate future educators and educational leaders about the ethical considerations involved in AI adoption. This includes discussing issues of bias, privacy, security, and equity. Additionally, programs can guide participants in developing technology policies that address the responsible and ethical use of AI in education, ensuring transparency, fairness, and the protection of student data.
4. 4.    Collaborative Partnerships: Teacher preparation programs should foster partnerships with industry experts, researchers, and AI developers to stay updated on the latest advancements and research in AI technologies. Collaborations can provide valuable insights into emerging trends, challenges, and best practices, enabling teacher educators to deliver up-to-date knowledge to their students.
5. Critical Thinking and Digital Literacy: Teacher preparation programs should emphasize the development of critical thinking skills and digital literacy among educators. By incorporating these skills into the curriculum, future teachers will be better equipped to critically evaluate AI applications, identify potential biases, and make informed decisions about integrating AI tools into their classrooms.
6. Classroom Integration and Practical Experience: Teacher preparation programs should provide opportunities for pre-service teachers to gain hands-on experience with AI tools and technologies in real classroom settings. This can be achieved through practicum experiences, internships, or collaborative projects with schools that have implemented AI initiatives. By engaging with AI in practical contexts, future educators can better understand its benefits, challenges, and adapt it to meet the diverse needs of their students.

Embracing the need to address these aspects of AI utilization is within the purvey of teacher preparation programs.  Their teacher candidates and educational leaders can receive the professional development that will result in a comprehensive understanding of AI, its potential, and the associated benefits and risks. Thus, direct instruction and the exchange of unbiased knowledge will enable teacher candidates and educational leaders to effectively share information, engage in informed discussions, and shape policies that ensure responsible and effective utilization of AI in education.

 

To cite:

Anderson, C.J. (June 30, 2023). The role of teacher preparation programs related to K-12 students’ future utilization of AI. [Web log post] Retrieved from http://www.ucan-cja.blogspot.com/

References:

U.S. Department of Education, Office of Educational Technology, Artificial Intelligence and Future of Teaching and Learning: Insights and Recommendations, Washington, DC, 2023. Retrieved from: Artificial Intelligence and the Future of Teaching and Learning (ed.gov)