Education in the Age of AI

As with any new technology in history, many approach AI with caution and fear, conjuring sci-fi fueled images of robots taking over jobs and the world. AI is evidently going to impact each and everyone of us in some way - hands up who has received homework from ChatGPT??

The good news is that academics and practitioners agree that AI won’t be taking our jobs, but rather redefining them. Therefore it is our responsibility to ensure skill relevancy, we need to put our learners back in the driving seat because as Sir James Dyson (professional problem solver, inventor and founder of Dyson) says:

It’s all about rote-learning, not using your imagination. The system doesn’t measure creativity; it measure what you can remember of other people’s facts”?

A fairly redundant skill in a world where unlimited information is instantly available to anyone with a smartphone. So what can we do as role models to equip our pupils with the right tools to succeed??

Nurture the soft skills - the life skills - that will differentiate them!

Innovation and creative thinking are underpinned by a willingness to take risks and make mistakes. We can encourage children to embrace their ‘Marvelous Mistakes’ by creating a culture whereby they are encouraged to take healthy risks. Flip that “but what if it goes wrong” to “what if it goes right".

On the Brilliant Me and My Mind course we decorate frames and write a 'Marvellous Mistake' inside - this reframes the mistake mindset and encourages a discussion or 'circle time' about what they learned from the mistake. Teachers might do this as a standalone activity, at the end of school day or as a lesson plenary:

Focus in on asking open questions - not ‘what’ but ‘how’. This helps build critical mindset and creative problem solving skills by encouraging them to think laterally, considering the process as opposed to focussing in on getting the correct answer:

Let them know when you don’t know - this is a golden opportunity to role model a growth mindset. Getting something wrong in front of your pupils and being comfortable with admitting this and coming up with a plan to find out more demonstrates humility and models the approach pupils should take when they are met with a mistake or something new.

How can we help your school equip children for success?

We partner with many schools in the UK and internationally to offer a number of programmes to support character education including in-person life skill courses, online workshops, staff CPD, and parent talks. If you would like to find out more or get in touch click here.