Review - The Next Word AI & Teachers

This book offers a timely snapshot of AI's impact on students and teachers. It provides valuable insights into its practical applications by deeply diving into broader implications within the school community.

For some teachers, there is a great fear of being replaced by robots and AI, a sentiment that has been around for many years. However, Jackson and Esterman dispel common AI myths and explore its potential for enhancing learning and assessment.

"This is where the real gold lies for AI in education: allowing humans to be more capable than they otherwise would be." p.19

Jackson and Esterman bring a wealth of educational experience and credibility to this book, as seen in their generous sharing of ideas and insights. Their perspectives are interwoven with reflections from fellow educators and even Government Minister Jason Clare, providing a comprehensive understanding of AI's impact. Through diverse examples and practical applications, the book showcases how teachers are experimenting with AI in classrooms, enhancing workflows, and innovating lesson and assessment design. At the end of each chapter are some practical takeaways and useful insights for the reader to apply to their own context.

Whilst this book provides school-based insights, there are universal applications that can be applied across industry and training settings. Many of these ideas and strategies can be applied to Vocational, Higher Ed or Corporate training. It was refreshing to read how AI can empower teachers to design meaningful assessments that tackle real-world problems, moving beyond simply checking off curriculum outcomes with assessments students quickly forget.

The practical applications help teachers navigate the complex debate surrounding AI's role in education, offering valuable guidance for educators grappling with appropriate use and implementation questions in traditional classrooms. However, many of these strategies and questions can easily be adapted to online learning environments too.

"With AI enhancements, education can also offer more flexiability and autonomy of pace, place and mode of learning, allowing learners to learn at their own speed, location and style. Furthermore, teachers can offer more customisation on a scale not possible without this technology". p. 72.

Whilst the fundamentals of AI integration have been thoroughly addressed, it would be interesting for these authors to include another chapter in an updated edition that includes the use of AI in learning management systems. The integration of AI in learning platforms has been prolific in 2024. Many schools and institutions empower teachers to design learning experiences and assessments directly within digital platforms, eliminating the need to switch between platforms and streamlining the curriculum development process. These platforms also provide intuitive time-saving processes for marking, providing feedback and managing student communication.

While the book primarily focuses on AI's potential to enhance learning, it also highlights its often-overlooked capacity to reduce teachers' administrative burden significantly. Many educators remain unaware of the extent to which AI can automate tasks, freeing up valuable time for them to focus on what matters most: their students.

I highly recommend this book; it empowers educators to embrace AI as a tool for enriching teaching and fostering deeper learning and critical thinking skills for their students.