My trip to the frontier of AI education
When I was a kid, my parents took me to the World’s Fair in Seattle. It was amazing to see all these fantastic technologies that felt like something out of a science fiction novel. I asked them to take me back multiple times during the six months it was open here, and I remember walking away from the fairgrounds each time feeling that I had just caught a glimpse of the future.
That feeling came back to me recently as I walked out of a classroom in Newark, New Jersey.
In May, I had the chance to visit the First Avenue Elementary School, where they’re pioneering the use of AI education in the classroom. The Newark School District is piloting Khanmigo , an AI-powered tutor and teacher support tool, and I couldn’t wait to see it for myself.
I’ve written a lot about Khanmigo on this blog. It was developed by Khan Academy , a terrific partner of the Gates Foundation. And I think Sal Khan , the founder of Khan Academy, is a visionary when it comes to harnessing the power of technology to help kids learn. (You can read my review of his new book, Brave New Words, here .)
We’re still in the early days of using AI in classrooms, but what I saw in Newark showed me the incredible potential of the technology.
I was blown away by how creatively the teachers were using the tools. Leticia Colon, an eighth-grade algebra teacher, explained how she used AI to create problem sets about hometown heroes the students might be interested in. In February, Khanmigo helped her develop equations that incorporated Newark boxer Shakur Stevenson’s workout routines, so her students could practice math skills while learning about a real-world role model.
领英推荐
Cheryl Drakeford, a third-grade math and science teacher, talked about how she uses Khanmigo to help create rubrics and lesson hooks for assignments. The technology gives her a first draft, which she then tailors for her students. For example, the AI once gave her a hook that used a generic story about a fruit stand, and she edited it to be about Pokémon cards and Roblox—two topics her students are passionate about. “Khanmigo gives me the blueprint, but I have to give the delivery,” she said.
Several of the teachers I met with showed me how they can access each student’s dashboard and get a summary of how they’re doing in a particular subject. They loved being able to easily and quickly track a student’s progress, because it’s saving them a lot of time. They were also excited about how their students are using Khanmigo as a personalized tutor.
This technology is far from perfect at this point. Although the students I met loved using Khanmigo overall, they also mentioned that it struggled to pronounce Hispanic names and complained that its only voice option is male—which makes it clear how much thought must still be put into making the technology inclusive and engaging for all students. In an ideal world, the AI would know what the students in Ms. Drakeford’s class are into, so she wouldn’t have to do any editing. And Ms. Colon told me it took her several tries to get Khanmigo to give her what she wanted.
In other words, my visit to Newark showed me where we are starting from with AI in the classroom, not where the technology will end up eventually. It reinforced my belief that AI will be a total game-changer for both teachers and students once the technology matures. Even today, when the teachers at First Avenue delegate routine tasks to AI assistants, they reclaim time for what matters most: connecting with students, sparking curiosity, and making sure every child feels seen and supported—especially those who need a little extra help.
Khanmigo is just one of many AI-powered education tools in the pipeline, and the Gates Foundation is focused on ensuring these tools reach and support all students, not just a few. Our goal is that they help level the playing field, not widen existing gaps. We’re currently working with educators across the country to get feedback and make the technology more responsive to their needs. Visits like the one I took to Newark are part of that process. It was fantastic to learn what teachers were enthused about and see how different students are engaging with AI.
The educators I met in Newark are true pioneers. Some were on the cutting edge, constantly looking for new ways to use AI in their classroom. Others were using it in a more limited fashion. I was impressed by how the school was able to support each teacher’s comfort level with the technology. They’re putting a lot of thought into change management and making sure that no educator is forced to try things that won’t work in their classroom. ?
That’s because, at the end of the day, teachers know best. If you hand them the right tools, they will always find a way to support their students. My visit to Newark left me more optimistic than ever that AI will help teachers do what they do best and free them up to focus on what matters most.
I may have said it a few times without notice. However, the school system in most parts of Africa especially in high schools will limit the full utilization of AI and leverage its benefits to the ordinary student. Most high schoolers are in the boarding system and with restrictions to the use of phones or computers in the dormitories and even less available in their labs if any, the current use of textbooks must be expanded especially as they spend 9 months out of 12 months in a year in the facility. How can the same student, probably struggling to grasp basic concepts in class and unable to afford the expensive access to additional tuition succeed? As much as the libraries are useful with books that can assist with the comprehension of topics, the way some present the topics, makes them even more confusing. Print or hard-copy learning materials will continue to be useful in Africa for many years to come. However, a significant upgrade to how concepts are explained would make the most impact. They must be intentionally curated for the purposes of reaching out to the most academically disadvantaged. AI is useful but just as salad may have its health benefits, many hungry stomachs would prefer a heavier meal to begin with.
Profesor de inglés | Venta de medicinas para el dolor crónico
1 个月Wow tremendous article about the good use of the New tech called AI.
Electrical Engineering Student at University of Tehran | Neuroscience Enthusiast
2 个月With each passing day, the role of LLMs as teachers, advisors, and companions becomes more prominent. However, it is crucial to recognize that the quality of their responses, despite continuous advancements, still heavily depends on the quality of the input they receive. To effectively benefit from this technology, we must develop the ability to clearly express our thoughts, emotions, and challenges.Unfortunately, in our current education systems, these skills are not taught as extensively as they should be. The new generation needs to master emotional intelligence and critical thinking more than technical literacy. Integrating emotional intelligence, communication skills, and ethics into education will empower the next generation to navigate a world where this technology grants humans extraordinary capabilities. With greater awareness, they will be better equipped to accurately identify future challenges and provide appropriate solutions.
--
2 个月I'm a teacher from Germany. Thank you for this inspiring and motivating article. I especially appreciate your way of expressing your enthusiasm and pointing out the current shortcomings of this new technology at the same time. You're such a discerning observer/critic of the things that are going on in our world.