“Will AI replace Teachers?” — Views from Portugal and Viet Nam
Written by Mrs Maria Piedade DA SILVA (Portugal) and Ms Thuy Hang NGUYEN (Viet Nam)
This article is part of a series on the topic “Will AI replace Teachers?” written by the participant teachers of the #ASEFClassNet15 Conference from 51 #ASEM countries. Check out the introduction essay here and more information about the conference here!
The first thought that came to our minds when contemplating on the question “Will AI Replace Teachers?” was Isaac Asimov’s short story “The Fun They Had” (1951). The science fiction author and philosopher depicted a futuristic view on schools in the year 2155. By then, traditional schools would have been replaced with a computerised home-schooling system. His criticism of an educational system where teachers are replaced by machines is explicit: the lack of social interaction among children and relationships with teachers, as well as the shift of an impersonal learning environment.
About forty years later, in 1988, Asimov gave an interview with Bill Moyers from the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) in the United States. Again, he didn’t’ advocate the abolition of schools, but clearly foresaw the benefits of computer-based lifelong learning and online education decades before it existed.
“What people call learning is forced on you, and everyone is forced to learn the same thing on the same day at the same speed in class, and everyone is different. For some it goes too fast, for some too slow, for some in the wrong direction. But give them a chance…in addition to school, I don’t say we abolish school, but in addition to school, to follow up their own bent from the start.”[1]
Asimov criticised the “One size fits all” education and envisioned a more personalised and differentiated learning approach with the support of computers — “a one-to-one relationship between information source and information consumer [… and with the computer…] there’s a possibility of a one-to-one relationship for the many. ”[2]
We believe that teachers can benefit from AI-powered software, for example one that uses AI to take content from textbooks and translates it into outlines, chapter summaries, study guides, practice tests, and cards. The same applies to the possibility of personalising the learning experience with AI applications like smart tutoring systems. They follow each learner’s ability in specific subjects & skills and then tailors the content level & exercises to optimise the efficiency of learning, thus representing valuable assistance to the students.
In the near future, we imagine a school where every teacher will be supported and guided by AI technology that can relieve them of tedious tasks and where every student will be given AI-powered personalised support and learning opportunities, both inside and outside the classroom.
More than replacing the teacher, AI will complement and support the teachers’ job by freeing them from time-consuming activities and creating more time to focus on pedagogical tasks and their students’ needs.
References
Asimov, I. (1951). The Fun They had. Retrieved from http://web1.nbed.nb.ca/sites/ASD-S/1820/J%20Johnston/Isaac%20Asimov%20-%20The%20fun%20they%20had.pdf
Luckin, R. (2019). AI will revolutionise education, but it could worsen inequalities. Retrieved from https://www.jisc.ac.uk/blog/ai-will-revolutionise-education-but-could-worsen-inequalities-05-feb-2019
Moyers, B. (1989). A World of Ideas: Conversations with Thoughtful Men and Women: About American Life Today and the Ideas Shaping Our Future. New York: Doubleday.
[1] Asimov, I. (2015). Retrieved from https://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/futuretense/an-interview-with-isaac-asimov/6546134#transcript
[2] Asimov, I. (2015). Retrieved from https://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/futuretense/an-interview-with-isaac-asimov/6546134#transcript
About the authors:
Mrs Maria Piedade DA SILVA, Teacher and Teacher Trainer, Agrupamento de Escolas de Sátão, Portugal
Maria has been teaching English as a Foreign Language since 1996 to pupils aged 12 to 18 and has been involved in international projects (Lingua e, Comenius, eTwinning, Erasmus+ and ASEF classNet) for about 18 years. She is also a Teacher Trainer at Edu for Training Centre, a Certified Microsoft Innovative Educator, and a MIE Expert. She has coordinated several Comenius and Erasmus+ projects, as well as eTwinning projects which were awarded with National and European eTwinning Quality Labels. She was awarded two European eTwinning Prizes for the projects: “Photography as a Pedagogical Tool” (2014) and “Grandma’ stories in 2080”(2018) and two European Language Labels in 2009 and 2013. She is a PhD researcher, affiliated to the CECC — Research Centre for Communication and Culture, Universidade Católica Portuguesa. She has published articles and communications in national and international conferences. Maria is an alumna of the ASEF ClassNet.
Ms Thuy Hang NGUYEN, Teacher, Thang Long High School, Viet Nam
Thuy Hang has been working for 15 years as a Chemistry Teacher at Thang Long High School, Ha Noi. She completed her Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry and her Master’s degree in teaching methodology at Ha Noi University of Education. She has attended courses on STEM Education, Modern Educational Management Skills in Australia. She has recently become a leader of the Science and English integrated teaching programme at her institute. As a passionate teacher, she always strives to implement interesting lessons.
NOTE:
The views and opinions expressed in this article are solely by the author(s) and do not represent that of the Asia-Europe Foundation (ASEF).
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