It was time we introduced this to our readers.I might be very late as a tech interested teacher, but I, too, needed to make some sense out of the complexities that Artificial Intelligence has brought along. The rapid advancements of Artificial Intelligence have created excitement as well as scepticism in equal measure. In the field of education, AI has been revolutionary both in teaching and learning experiences, offering personalized instruction and real-time feedback. However, the ambivalent nature of AI raises concerns about issues such as data privacy and human connections. With AI, we acknowledge and dissect ,we blow hot and cool simultaneously. By understanding its ambivalence, we, in the field of education, can make objective decisions about how adequately we should integrate AI in our lives and those of our learners. This article aims to point out the ambivalent nature of AI, exploring its potential benefits and challenges and the implications of these to educators.
What Is Artificial Intelligence?
Artificial intelligence is the simulation of human intelligence in machines that are programmed to think and act like humans. Learning, reasoning, problem-solving, perception, and language comprehension are all examples of its cognitive abilities.
Sugar side of AI
AI has come to ease life, so they say! With the thousands of AI apps being created in developed countries, we can have access to all sorts of information, provided we use the right prompts, in as fast as seconds.
AI is manna for learners.The struggles and sleepless nights have considerably reduced since AI apps provide answers to all questions, from simple to complex.
Education has become more affordable in terms of cost. AI can do tasks that are done by administrators, teachers and IT in the twinkle of an eye. For instance,it can provide intelligent virtual tutors. This reduces the need for human labour, cutting down expenditures.
Sour side of AI
Labour threatening invention: AI, if not moderated, shall extinguish human labour. So your job as a teacher might be at stake in the years ahead.
Increased social disparities and bias:
While Africa is still struggling to get electricity and internet in all the regions of the continent,it is frustrating to see how far the Western world has gone in terms of technological innovations. The gap grows wider every day.
Dependency: Human connections and social interactions are drastically reducing. Infact some people spend more of their time with AI robots than fellow humans. In the educational field,dependency on AI shall kill skills like critical thinking and problem-solving.
Data privacy:
This is the biggest threat of AI. For AI apps to operate, a lot of random and uncontrolled data is collected from consumers to create patterns and programs. Generally, there are very few restrictions on AI. The EU introduced an act in April 2021 to regulate AI systems considered at risk, but it has not yet been validated. Data privacy causes two main problems data bias and societal bias.
It should be noted that AI programming are built by humans. These programs obey the believes and cultures of those programming them. AI patterns therefore reflect the believes and thoughts of those who program them.
Implications for Educators
It is more than ever crucial that educators be mindful of the ethical implications of AI adoption, ensuring fairness, and accountability in its use.
We should endeavour as teachers to be trained through professional development courses and workshops. Jump to every opportunity provided for professional development in order to effectively understand and use AI tools as well as navigate through its complexities. By doing this, you stand in a better position to appreciate the pros and cons of AI.
Balancing the use of AI with human connection and social interaction is necessary to maintaining the development and well-being of students. As such, encouraging learners to acquire critical thinking and Digital Literacy skills is a must do, to navigating the complexities of this AI-driven world.
Haven discussed in detail what AI is, its pros and cons as well as its implications on educators, let us briefly introduce some useful AI apps that can help teachers.
These apps for most, can be downloaded in playstore. Use them with moderation.
Conclusion
While AI presents immense potential in education, educators must approach it with a critical and cautious mindset. By understanding the ambivalent nature of AI, educators can better appreciate its benefits while addressing the challenges it poses.
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