Arr! Me hearties, if ye work the AI magic rightly, it be a boon for young scholars and their kin!
2023-12-29
Arr, this here artificial intelligence be troublin' parents, aye, but methinks it be a golden chance as well. AI can be a mighty tool for aidin' grown-ups in decidin' what be best for their wee ones' learnin'!
In the language of a 17th century pirate, mateys, if ye be readin' the headlines in 2023, ye may be hearin' tales of Artificial Intelligence (AI) comin' to save or destroy education. There be AI tools that can help proofread students' work and chatbots that can act as virtual research assistants. Arrr, these applications be showin' promise in improvin' what students be able to do and how they be able to do it.But avast! Ask any teacher, and ye'll be hearin' tales of AI-generated essays with incorrect information. They be havin' to work like scallywags to make sure their tests and quizzes be protected from ChatGPT mischief.
Instead of lookin' at the whole AI and education universe, let's focus on one significant challenge facin' K-12 education today. Aye, there be more schoolin' and educational opportunities available to families than ever before. This year, eight states be enactin' or expandin' K-12 choice programs where more than 90% of students be eligible to participate. These developments be followin' the moves to universal student eligibility in Arizona and West Virginia in 2022.
Now, approximately one in five students in America be livin' in a state with near-universal choice in K-12 education. And around 20 million students nationwide be eligible for a private K-12 choice program. Add in the millions of students eligible for charter schools, magnet schools, or transfers across district boundaries, and ye be havin' tens of millions of parents lookin' for the best school or education provider for their child.
Decidin' on a school or tutor be a daunting task that takes into account safety, quality, cost, community, convenience, extracurricular opportunities, and reputation, to name just a few. But now, students and their parents be havin' access to funds to personalize learnin'. The pandemic may have left a legacy in education, pushin' for new priorities and openin' pathways to schoolin' and learnin' opportunities.
Imagine movin' to a new state with your school-aged children and wantin' to find the best fit for their education. An AI-powered bot could sift through countless sources to find options for your student, basketball player, and cellist. It could help ye find schools with excellent teachers, transportation options, strong athletic programs, and a nice offerin' of extracurriculars.
But while AI may be helpful, parents do have concerns. A poll found that 78% of parents with school-aged children be concerned about the potential effects of AI. High-income earners and the college-educated be more likely to have heard of AI, while rural and low-income adults be less likely. Efforts must be made to ensure that these tools be accessible to all communities.
In the end, we should welcome responsible technology, includin' AI, that can aid us in the major decisions we make about our kids' education. But we also need to be cautious and critical of how we deploy and use AI. The future of AI in education be somethin' we should approach with hope, caution, and a focus on practicality.