Concern over use of AI in North Yorkshire classrooms

A conference is taking place today to look at how artificial intelligence could be used in schools

Published 29th Feb 2024

A conference is taking place today looking at how AI can be used in schools.

The Westminster Education forum will meet to discuss the topic.

They will assess the potential impact of AI on reducing staff workload, including the use of AI-powered assessments and lesson planning, allowing more time for lesson delivery and supporting student experiences, and the training teachers need to use AI safely and appropriately within schools.

Discussion will also consider how AI can be utilised to improve education, including which subjects will benefit most, looking at risks and legal considerations relating to ethics, data privacy and security, as well as how students can be taught to better understand AI.

However there are already some concerns over the development of AI in the classrooms by the North Yorkshire NEU (national education union).

"Funds should be going directly into classrooms"

Gary McVeigh-Kay is the North Yorkshire rep: "Reducing workload for staff is about reducing workload, it's not asking an alternative computer system to take on that workload. Because what that does of course is break the link between students and teachers."

"We've got grave concerns about that because obviously that will then ultimately start money that should be going into our classrooms going into the coffers of corporate companies who are running AI operations."

"We need to get rid of the workload we don't just transfer it somewhere else, because then what is the point of it? If it's doesn't need a human being to carry out that workload then is that workload meaningful, that is our point of view."

"We've got dwindling funds in our schools and actually our funds should be going directly into classrooms by employing really well qualified teachers who can have those daily interactions with young people."

It comes as a new study suggests a quarter of all children are now using generative AI tools to help with schoolwork

Research from online safety charity Internet Matters found that over half of 13-to-14-year-olds were actively engaging with AI chatbots, and that 41% of children believe AI tools will be beneficial to their education.

But parents are more sceptical, with only 29% agreeing the technology was helpful.

The charity has called on the Department for Education (DfE) to provide more advice and support to schools to help teachers, parents and pupils benefit from AI tools and understand the potential benefits and limitations, while also using the technology safely.

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