Artificial intelligence (AI) already plays a significant role in daily life, from correcting texts, to navigating one\u2019s way around town, internet searches, to the way people interact with their banks and other organisations, to name just a few. With the release of ChatGPT, the realisation that AI is rapidly becoming an integral part of our children\u2019s lives and education was brought to the fore.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
An education expert says that with the rapid emergence of ChatGPT people have been denied the opportunity to discuss and process their thoughts and to prepare themselves and their environments \u2013 even with ample warning. So, one\u2019s initial reaction tended to revert to a deficit perspective and the need to stop or prevent this type of AI entering our school\/educational institutions or systems, with the view to minimising negative influences and disruptions it may have on one\u2019s children\u2019s education or prospects.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cBut just as we had to adapt to the use of calculators in the classroom decades ago we will need to adapt to the use of AI in our classrooms and homes,\u201d says Lynda Eagle, Academic Advisor at ADvTECH, a leading private education provider. \u201cIn the context of schooling and education we will need to enter discussions with all stakeholders to ensure we explore and develop deep ethical understandings and central agreements on how we use AI.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe will need to redefine expectations on plagiarism and copyright, how we can pre-empt the pitfalls and put in place scaffolding to assist children as they navigate their way and mould and create their own narratives and personal learning journeys. We can further design learning experiences that move from the regurgitation of content to that of deeper contextual understandings \u2013 to experiences that are relevant, where connections can be made and where what is learned can be applied to real world situations.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Eagle says that in the early years it is important to remember that students learn best through play-based learning opportunities. This ensures that their executive functioning develops the way that it is intended to \u2013 through exploration and discovery, through real-life experiences and interactions with the world around them, and through reciprocal and supportive relationships. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cSo, in these critical spaces of the student\u2019s development, we must be very intentional in the way we introduce our children to devices, the appropriateness of the content they watch and the amount of screen time that they are exposed to. In the older years and as our children become more proficient with the use of AI, it is our responsibility as educators and guardians to remain aware of what is available and the impact that it has on our students\u2019 well-being and ability to learn. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cOur focus should remain on how we can then expose our children to deeper contextual learning experiences \u2013 where they can develop their critical and creative thinking skills, where they can make comparisons, look for patterns, identify bias, hypothesise and find solutions. Where innovation can be taken to new levels, where their ability to communicate can be enhanced, and where their learning can be facilitated by the exposure to the information they require to make informed decisions and create deeper understandings.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Through all of this it is also important to not forget that we are building our children\u2019s digital citizenship to ensure that they engage with AI safely and mindfully.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n Breaking down the possibilities further, parents and educators can promote AI and technology in the following ways:<\/b>\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n
\n Encourage exploration<\/b>
\n <\/i>\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Encourage children to explore and experiment with AI technologies, such as chatbots, voice assistants, or educational apps. This is done more effectively where parents\/educators take a more \u201cco-viewing\u201d approach and mindfully evaluate the benefits or pitfalls of the application together. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n
\n Teach critical thinking<\/b>
\n <\/i>\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Teach children to think critically about the information they receive from AI-powered sources and layer their own insight on top of the information they receive. It is important that children understand how algorithms work and how to ask questions in a way that can identify bias, and inaccurate statements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n
\n Foster creativity<\/b>
\n <\/i>\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Encourage children to use the information they have gained to create their own ideas and solutions, and to apply these to new learning situations or experiences.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n
\n Model healthy tech habits<\/b>
\n <\/i>\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Model healthy tech behaviours, which includes the limiting of screen time. It is important that they participate in non-tech activities such as playing games, outdoor time, reading and connecting with friends and family.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n
\n Limit reliance on AI:<\/b>
\n <\/i>\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
While it can be the easiest path of least resistance having information at your fingertips in an instant may only fuel the need for instant gratification. It is important that children are aware that there are many resources and that building a deep understanding means looking at a situation from many different perspectives. This means that they need to explore different resources, brainstorm, communicate and collaborate, hypothesise, develop their arguments for or against, and that information should never be taken at face value.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Eagle says teachers, parents\/guardians and children should be made aware of the pitfalls of AI as it relates to their privacy, bias, and accuracy, how they should respond in such instances and what course of action they should take.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIn this constantly evolving space of AI, parents and educators must always remain cognisant of the pivotal and protective role they play as their children navigate their way in a new world full of opportunities, possibilities and potential.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Artificial intelligence (AI) already plays a significant role in daily life, from correcting texts, to navigating one\u2019s way around town, internet searches, to the way people interact with their banks and other organisations, to name just a few. 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