AI is a How, not a What:
Why EdTech Companies Need to Shift Their Thinking to Drive (Real) Change in K-12
As artificial intelligence (AI) gears up to take education into the future, we need to take a look back to determine why the payoff for all these “game-changing” solutions hasn’t always lived up to the hype. Even with the tools available and the promises made, many districts have yet to see a bump in math and reading scores.
In the race for innovation, the best – and most challenging – thing for AI solution providers to do is to slow down and fully grasp what educators need to shape technology to our schools’ realities. By centering teachers and kids in the development process, EdTech companies can save time, increase their impact, and improve student outcomes.
Learning from lessons of the past to move AI forward.
As AI gains steam, EdTech companies and superintendents now have the opportunity to sit in the same room and collaborate in a way they were unable to three years ago. For instance, during recent summits hosted by the Institute for Education Innovation (IEI), solution providers have been equipped with powerful insights from district administrators to alter AI frameworks for the betterment of students. Over numerous discussions between stakeholders, three main points continued to emerge:
Stop pitching, start listening.
My recommendation is to remove the word AI from your vocabulary altogether. Instead, discuss the problems you’re solving, and be sure they’re real problems schools face. For instance, a rural district lacking a robust technological infrastructure will face an entirely different set of challenges than an urban or suburban school. When conversations are superintendent-led, your shared vision of student success comes into clear view, and the right recommendations can be made.
Recognize AI for what it is – an educational tool.
The industry needs to grasp that AI will never replicate the intelligence of a teacher who possesses the talents, empathy, and cultural understanding to build authentic relationships with students and provide them with the most optimal learning environment. Instead, educational AI is a secondary, next-generation tool that takes textbook learning to a more engaging level and is driven by learning trajectory-based instruction. Teachers should be able to provide lesson prompts and trust AI to build supplemental materials, such as interactive maps and game-based learning, and provide up-to-the-minute research on a particular topic to further spark a child’s curiosity.
In addition, AI powered-tools allow educators to gain insights into student performance and learning patterns so they can use that information to tailor instructional approaches, identify at-risk students, and intervene early to prevent academic struggles all on a one-on-one basis. EdTech can recommend next steps based on assessments, but it will always lack the human element to truly personalize learning beyond the data provided.
When we overanalyze the data, we overlook the issues that affect a child’s performance, such as coming to school hungry, experiencing personal trauma, or simply having a bad day. Teachers want AI to help them manage differentiated instruction that is pedagogically-sound, but they also want to use their classroom experience to determine the best approach for the child.
Take the heavy lift off teachers’ shoulders.
Currently, the typical teacher works 54 hours each week, and only half their time is dedicated to teaching students. The hours they could spend individually with each child to support their learning is taken up by administrative duties and piles of paperwork. Unrealistic expectations are a top factor that is pushing teachers to leave the classroom, and 75 percent of those who feel overworked report there’s not enough time in the day to handle everything required of them.
According to McKinsey & Company, AI can automate between 20 to 40 percent of non-teaching tasks, freeing up on average 13 hours teachers can use to “lead to higher student outcomes and higher student satisfaction.” If AI takes over multiple tasks, such as generating field trip letters, writing grants, grading, and assisting with lesson plans, teachers can get back to what they love doing, and districts will see a drop in teacher attrition.
Better outcomes for educators and students.
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