Success Areeveso

I attended the annual event organised by Digital Education Futures Initiative (DEFI), Cambridge, on ‘AI-Powered Pedagogy: Designing the future of education’. It was my best decision as my research intersects Education, Media and Technology, and it aligns with my dissertation. I had a great time connecting with other professionals and learning the new trends in Artificial Intelligence in Education.

Here are my major takeaways and how it improved my mindset and outlook for my dissertation:

1. AI is here to stay, so we should explore better ways to incorporate it into our education system. I agree with this because, from my research, there is a divide between professionals resisting AI and its potential effect on our work, especially in the social sciences.

2. Over the years, the primary focus has been on the technology itself, We know the technology is excellent, but how about we focus on the methodology, teachers’ use of AI if it’s used in the classroom, and students’ experiences with using AI? The potential question here is whether these would replace the way students learn or if it would pique their interest more in learning new concepts.

3. What is the future of education? I loved that this topic was explored. DEFI shared their concepts on future thinking and how they think we should approach this, and it is more of taking a step backwards and looking forward. What would education be like in twenty years? Would there be teacher shortages? Can AI work effectively in education without human interaction?

4. There is a need to prioritise 21st-century skills like creativity, critical thinking, collaboration and communication. We need to teach courses that explore and measure these skills. Assessments should not only be an actual test of knowledge but should progress from writing essays only.

5. There is a need to empower teachers with AI, from Idea generation to helping with mundane tasks. This also exposed that AI needs human interactions like dialogue; if we can’t interact with it, it won’t be effective.

6. Some sessions explored topics like ethics, regulation, policy, assessments and it was incredible to see a speed showcase with EdTech professionals highlighting their innovation with AI and helping educators. My favourite session was the panel discussion which discussed the practical challenges and opportunities for AI in the education field and social sciences.

I had a great learning experience at this event and also visiting the University of Cambridge. I am looking forward to attending the event next year by Godsgrace. I was hosted by my friend and colleague who is a Ph.D. student and a Gates Cambridge scholar which signifies growth and how we both have evolved over the years.

If you are in interested in AI use in education, I would love to connect with you. I have so much to learn. Thank you.

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