Can artificial intelligence replace a teacher in the classroom?

In 1913, Thomas Edison predicted the imminent end of books in schools, claiming that films would take their place. A century has passed, and his prophecy seems to be coming true, but not quite as he imagined.

Today, artificial intelligence (AI) is penetrating the educational process, offering new tools and opportunities for learning. For example, let's look at Khanmigo - a set of AI tools developed for students and teachers.

Khanmigo is not just a set of boring programs, but a real portal to the world of knowledge. It can communicate with you as Thomas Edison, Albert Einstein, Winston Churchill, or even a fictional character - Captain Ahab, who will tell you about his whale hunt.

But that's not all! Khanmigo can solve math problems, helping you understand each step, and even write science fiction. Yes, you heard right!

Interacting with AI, you can create texts, solve problems, and engage in dialogues with the great minds of the past.

And this is just the beginning! AI is rapidly evolving, and new horizons in education are opening up before us. But how significant is the role of AI in the schools of the future? And should we be afraid of replacing teachers with machines?

The modern education system resembles a conveyor belt, with teachers forced to teach material at a uniform pace, focusing on the average student. This creates problems: some get bored, others fall behind, and the system is not always able to meet the individual needs of each student.

This is where AI comes to the rescue. It can become a powerful tool to make learning more personalized.

For example, in mathematics:

1. Standard courses combine group lessons with independent work using software.

2. Programs driven by algorithms select exercises individually for each student.

3. Teachers can use these programs as an alternative to homework, freeing up time for group activities.

But we should not think that AI is a magic wand that will solve all the problems of education.

Initially, AI was mainly used for teaching mathematics, reading, and basic sciences. But today it is also penetrating the humanities, changing our understanding of "traditional" education.

Khanmigo, for example, can already have conversations about literature.

However, it is not all that simple.

1. Artificial intelligence is still not perfect. It can make mistakes in calculations, invent facts, and this is unacceptable in the educational process.

2. It is necessary to solve the problem of motivation. Many students do not want to study independently, even with the help of AI.

3. And finally, we should not forget about the advantages of group learning.

Many believe that AI can completely replace teachers, but most experts agree that this is not the case.

Dan Meyer, a former math teacher who now works in educational technology, argues: "You can spend trillions of dollars trying to convince children and teachers that they will learn better without each other, but they will unanimously say: 'I don't think so.'"

Children come to school to find answers to two main questions: "How to do it?" and "Who am I?"

School is not only about learning, but also about personality formation.

Instead of completely replacing teachers, AI can become a powerful tool that complements the traditional education system.

Here are some examples.

1. Assistance in lesson planning. Programs like MagicSchool and TeachMate can create tests, rephrase texts for different levels of understanding, and generate letters to parents.

2. Analysis of lesson effectiveness. TeachFX analyzes lesson audio recordings, providing teachers with statistics: how much time they spoke, how many questions they asked, how much time they gave students to answer.

3. Assistance in distance learning. Stanford University is developing software that will suggest to tutors how to better interact with students during online classes.

4. Group work management. The University of Colorado is developing an "AI partner" that will monitor group discussions, helping students when they get stuck, and involving the teacher if the situation becomes too complex.

Many compare the modern education system to "dinosaurs," suggesting that AI will be a revolution that will radically change everything. But in reality, AI will more likely be an evolution, helping to make the traditional system more efficient.

Technologies should not change everything radically. Instead, they should help schools do what they have been doing for many years, but better. AI can become a powerful tool for improving education, but it should not replace teachers.