The use of artificial intelligence (AI) in education has sparked debate among experts. An article in the MIT Technology Review by Will Douglas Heaven argues that technology such as the ChatGPT language model could hurt education by making it too easy for students to cheat. However, Dr. Lynne Kulich, a speech pathologist and Harvard lecturer, believes that AI presents an opportunity to re-imagine the education system and redefine success for children.
Instead of solely focusing on providing children with the skills to get ahead, Kulich suggests a new approach that integrates heart and mind. This involves tapping into children’s intrinsic interests and needs, as well as assessing them in ways that recognize their unique thinking skills. It means rethinking the traditional approach to summarizing activities, which only focuses on students’ ability to rehash information, without connecting it to their real-life experiences.
Kulich suggests that schools should focus on helping children develop their full humanity, which involves developing skills for judging the ethics of a situation, applying empathy in difficult times, and exploring the short- and long-term consequences of actions. Schools should also teach children how to love and care for others and themselves authentically, and recognize and support well-being.
Assessing students should also be reimagined to focus on the quality of conversations and interactions, rather than data-driven metrics such as the number of times a child raises their hand. While metrics may indicate how engaged a student is, it is critical to emphasize the everyday back-and-forth of discussions, as they reveal how much children understand and how they feel. Looking beyond metrics can also help avoid over-focusing on measurable outputs at the expense of quality learning and relational development.
AI such as ChatGPT can complement this new approach by generating multiple solutions to a problem and evaluating the consequences of these solutions, as well as how well the arguments are being made, and how much they align with students’ values and feelings.
As Kulich notes, “ChatGPT is going to change education, not destroy it.” She calls for a radical change in beliefs about education and success, and for the integration of AI’s potential within a broader approach that supports children’s holistic development.
