The Role of A.I. in Education

Künstliche Intelligenz (A.I.) wird immer häufiger im Bildungsbereich diskutiert – auch in den Klassen 3A-WI und 5A-WI. Im Rahmen eines Englischprojekts setzten sich die Schüler:innen mit der Frage auseinander, welche Chancen und Herausforderungen A.I. für Schule und Lernen mit sich bringt.

Die Schülerin Yara Gennah Torreggiani (3A-WI) berichtet auf Englisch:

Recently, our class discussed artificial intelligence (A.I.) during our English lessons. Our English teacher, Ms. Stillebacher, and Mr. Garcia Cox, a visiting teacher from Britain, guided us through this topic. We read an article titled "Should A.I. Write Your College Essays?", which highlighted concerns from teachers about students using A.I. for tasks like homework or even college applications.

The article pointed out that teachers are worried about cheating and the loss of students' personal opinions and critical thinking. While it also mentioned that A.I. can help people with fewer resources, the overall tone was quite negative towards A.I.

As students, we see both the pros and cons of A.I. It can be a great tool if used responsibly. For example, it can help us understand difficult topics better, but it shouldn't be used to do our assignments for us. It's important to find a balance and not let A.I. hinder our personal growth. One major drawback of A.I. is that it lacks emotional intelligence. This means that essays written by A.I. can be very generic and not personal enough. Therefore, we shouldn’t rely on A.I. for everything. It's crucial to use A.I. as a tool to enhance our learning, rather than let it replace us.

Most teachers know their students well, both, as learners and as human beings. They help us develop our passions, talents, and curiosities to accompany our way into adulthood. While A.I. can help explain topics or design assignments, a teacher is needed to make sure the students understand and improve. Motivating students is another area in which humans are essential. Computers can't match the empathy that teachers have for their students. Teachers play an important role in supporting students' motivation to learn and helping them develop their own sense of identity.

Creating a positive learning environment is also something that A.I. cannot replace. Teachers inspire and motivate students. They build relationships, demonstrate empathy, and try to ensure their students’ safety.
Providing feedback on a student’s performance is another area where A.I. fails. A.I. often faces challenges in delivering feedback that demonstrates a deep understanding of the subject. Teachers, on the other hand, can provide constructive feedback that benefits the student.

Lastly, attending to students’ basic needs is something that only teachers can do. Teachers often have a deep awareness of their students' well-being. After all, they are pedagogues. They can recognize hunger, distress, or when a student is having a bad day. A connection like this allows teachers to provide care for their students, to empathise with them, or even help them in moments of crises. “If we’re questioning the whole point of education, then it’s like we’re just sitting back and letting A.I. take control of everything instead of being the ones that are able to control it,” said Stephanie Harbulak, the curriculum, instruction, and assessment specialist at Meeker & Wright Special Education Cooperative in Minnesota. “Education doesn’t go away. It just needs to change.”

In conclusion, while A.I. has its problems, it also offers many opportunities. As students, we believe that A.I. can be a valuable tool if used wisely. It's important to use A.I. to support our learning and not let it replace our personal efforts and creativity. Teachers play a crucial role in our education, their empathy, the humanity is something that A.I. can never replace. 

This article was written using the opinions and findings of the students of class 3A-WI and the material provided to us by Ms. Stillebacher and Mr. Garcia Cox.