Public Education and AI over the next 5 years, oil and water or peas in a pod?

I have had the privilege to work on some very innovative public education teams, serve as a co-founder for several charter schools and have witnessed both educators and students realize their creative potential when it comes to teaching and learning. The 23-24 school year is my 25th year working in public education, in that time we have seen typing labs and computer labs replaced by Chromebooks and iPads. The overhead projector is no longer "a critical teacher tool" in the classroom. Where Google was once feared and not allowed in many classrooms (some will deny this, but this was absolutely a thing), it is now the critical teacher tool. I recall getting my first opportunity to serve as an Adjunct Professor for those aspiring to serve as educators and I said to them in frank terms "you aren't going to replace Google; teachers are not in the classroom to just teach facts and figures (content), teachers are there to engage, inspire and motivate."

In short, I have seen A LOT of change and shifts in public education. As with most other sectors of society, these shifts have been faster and more significant in recent years. The good news is many of these shifts are beginning to level the playing field for many of our students. While we still have a ways to go in order to ensure every single student has access to a quality education and while we will still not always agree upon what that looks like, it is clear that technology and tools are providing for more equity and access for today's public-school students.

Artificial intelligence (AI): AI will have a bigger impact than anything we've seen and no our job as educators is not to compete with it, it is to harness AI's potential in the context of public education.

Yep, I am going to go ahead and make that statement. A ton of colleagues will disagree and many still disagree that technology like the internet and tools like Google aren't helping students; nor are they delivering on the promise of equity and access. We can agree to disagree, this post is more opinion that scholarly for sure but keep in mind that opinion is grounded in 25+ years of serving in public education as teacher, administrator, researcher and lecturer. Of course, I could be proven wrong, those of you who read this can remind me that I was wrong in another 5 years.

All that said, as I attend conferences and meetings with other education leaders across California and the US, I find myself a little concerned about where we are at on the AI adoption curve as of today. I am not sure we are focused on getting prepared or for that matter "want to prepare" for what lies before us. Quite frankly, there are many teachers (and students) who are already using it. While it is my belief that AI is here to stay (and grow like a California wildfire), understanding both the challenges and opportunities will not be without its own set of headaches. With everything we are already contending with in public education, I fully understand some of our hesitation but the reality we will find ourselves dealing with (or working with) AI daily very soon. AI will be very much a part of the educational journey for any student enrolled in today's public schools. I imagine several Senior projects and essays from the class of 2023 can already be credited to Chat GPT or Bard and frankly there is nothing we can do about it. What can we do? We can figure out how to use AI effectively. We can teach students how to use AI.

For those who have not used Bard from Google or Chat GPT yet, in the next section of this article I am going to share with you a "real life" example of the type of output you might get when using an AI tool. The following 1,500 words are a response from Bard asking the tool to respond to this article's title as a prompt. Now would I use what Bard wrote as a finished product without editing or changing the article at all? Probably not, I may even rewrite the prompt several times before Bard begins to align with what I would like to convey to my readers. Keep in mind I have been using Bard for a couple of weeks and I have plugged some of my own writing into the tool. While the following 1,500 words aren't "exactly" how I would write the article it is not far off. It is amazing to me how these tools seem to adapt to your writing style and what you might think is important. Keep in mind Bard was released just weeks ago, which makes me think even trying to project what this will look like over the next five years comical. The reality is we just don't know. For today "Sunday Funday" however, I can give you an example of where we are today. This is somewhat of a "low level" and simple example, as Chat GPT now has a pro version with plugins, and I am sure Bard is not far behind.

Example Response from Bard using article title (this was generated in around 5 seconds):

Artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly changing the world, and education is no exception. AI has the potential to revolutionize education in a number of ways, from personalized learning to improved teacher training.

In the next five years, we can expect to see AI having a significant impact on public education. Here are just a few of the ways that AI is likely to change education:

• Personalized learning:?AI can be used to create personalized learning experiences for each student. This means that students can learn at their own pace and focus on the areas where they need the most help. AI can also be used to track student progress and identify any areas where they may be struggling.
• Improved teacher training:?AI can be used to provide teachers with personalized training and support. This can help teachers to improve their teaching skills and learn new ways to reach their students. AI can also be used to create virtual learning environments where teachers can collaborate with each other and share ideas.
• Increased access to education:?AI can be used to increase access to education for students in rural areas or students with disabilities. AI-powered tutors can provide students with one-on-one instruction, and AI-based learning platforms can make educational resources available to students around the world.
• Reduced costs:?AI can help to reduce the costs of education by automating tasks that are currently done by humans, such as grading papers and creating lesson plans. AI can also help to improve the efficiency of schools by streamlining administrative tasks.

Overall, AI has the potential to make a positive impact on public education. By providing personalized learning experiences, improving teacher training, and increasing access to education, AI can help to ensure that all students have the opportunity to succeed.

Here are some specific examples of how AI is already being used in education:

• Intelligent tutoring systems:?Intelligent tutoring systems (ITSs) are computer programs that can provide personalized instruction to students. ITSs use artificial intelligence to adapt their instruction to the individual needs of each student. ITSs have been shown to be effective in improving student learning in a variety of subjects, including math, science, and reading.
• Virtual learning environments:?Virtual learning environments (VLEs) are online platforms that can be used to deliver educational content and support student learning. VLEs can provide students with access to a variety of resources, including lectures, interactive exercises, and discussion forums. VLEs can also be used to track student progress and provide feedback.
• Gamification:?Gamification is the use of game-like elements in non-game contexts. Gamification can be used to make learning more engaging and motivating for students. For example, students can earn points or badges for completing tasks or answering questions correctly. Gamification can also be used to create competition between students, which can help to motivate them to learn.

These are just a few examples of how AI is already being used in education. As AI technology continues to develop, we can expect to see even more innovative ways to use AI to improve education.

So how can teachers use AI to improve their teaching? Here are a few tips:

• Use AI to personalize learning:?AI can be used to create personalized learning experiences for each student. This means that students can learn at their own pace and focus on the areas where they need the most help. AI can also be used to track student progress and identify any areas where they may be struggling.
• Use AI to get feedback:?AI can be used to provide teachers with feedback on their teaching. This feedback can help teachers to improve their teaching skills and learn new ways to reach their students. AI can also be used to create virtual learning environments where teachers can collaborate with each other and share ideas.
• Use AI to save time:?AI can be used to automate tasks that are currently done by humans, such as grading papers and creating lesson plans. This can free up teachers' time so that they can focus on more important tasks, such as planning lessons and interacting with students.

Overall, AI is a powerful tool that can be used to improve education. By using AI wisely, teachers can create more personalized learning experiences, get feedback on their teaching, and save time. This can help teachers to be more effective and help students to learn more.

So, will AI and public education be oil and water or peas in a pod in the next five years? It's hard to say for sure, but I believe that the potential benefits of AI for education are significant. With careful planning and implementation, AI can be used to improve the quality of education for all students.