Artificial intelligence (AI) is increasingly playing a role in education. Currently, tools like ChatGPT are primarily used by students to complete homework. However, students often trust the answers without verifying the underlying information. This poses significant risks, as students may adopt incorrect knowledge and train future AI with faulty data.
The decline in research skills and the use of incorrect knowledge can have long-term negative effects. If we rely solely on AI for learning or exams, who will be intelligent enough in the future to develop or control AI?
From my perspective, I am 55 years old, and during my early school years, we used slate boards. Computers appeared at the end of my schooling, and the internet was unheard of. This might sound outdated, but it shaped my critical thinking differently. Visiting the city or school library was part of our learning process, which has gradually diminished over the years.
With the advent of “Google wisdom,” convenience became prevalent. We have done everything, consciously or unconsciously, to ensure our children grow up with computers or smartphones. We need to encourage children to read and learn actively. In the face of advancing digitalization, this approach must be brought back into focus.
To break this cycle, the education system needs to be reimagined. AI should be used as a tool to support learning, not as a replacement for genuine learning methods. Students should learn to critically evaluate AI-generated information, similar to how law students verify sources.
This is especially important since AI applications are not yet entirely secure, reliable, or unbiased. Our education system is undergoing a transformation that we cannot ignore. Instead, we, along with policymakers and educational institutions, must actively shape it.
The coexistence of human intelligence and AI is inevitable. Therefore, the education system must ensure that students learn not only to consume but also to think critically. Instead of passive usage, there needs to be an active engagement with these applications.
AI can be an integrative tool to personalize and make learning more inclusive, helping students understand complex topics better. It is crucial that AI is seen as a support, not a replacement for teachers.
One of the greatest advantages of AI in education is its ability to cater to individual learning levels. Our current school system follows a uniform approach, leaving little room for individual differences, especially due to a shortage of teachers. However, everyone learns at their own pace and in different ways.
Educational psychologist Benjamin Bloom demonstrated in 1984 that students in one-on-one tutoring perform better than 98% of students taught in a classroom setting. This challenge can be addressed with AI: AI-supported education systems can adjust content and difficulty levels precisely and individually, dynamically and continuously.
This way, personalized learning paths can be created for each student, ensuring that by the end of the school year, all students have the same prerequisites for the next year or, even better, their own learning path. The potential is enormous.
In summary, it is crucial to integrate AI in education with long-term strategies that promote critical thinking and individuality. By balancing innovation with proven pedagogical principles, we can ensure that AI becomes a positive addition to our education system, not a threat.