• A Charles Sturt education academic said AI in schools could be harnessed for its ability to tailor learning to individual needs
• Dr Jacquie Tinkler said AI will prompt educators to reconsider current approaches to teaching and learning
• Charles Sturt is integrating the use of AI into its course material for future educators

A Charles Sturt University teaching academic is advising the industry to approach teaching assisted with the use of artificial intelligence (AI) with an open mind.

There have been many reports about the potential for AI to be used to ‘cheat’ during homework or assessments as more becomes known about the technology and how it will affect teaching and learning in schools and universities.

But Sub-Dean (Learning and Teaching) and Lecturer in the Charles Sturt Faculty of Arts and Education in Wagga Wagga, Dr Jacquie Tinkler, said it could have numerous benefits provided teachers are involved in every step of its development process.

Dr Tinkler said teachers need to actively learn about AI, how it works and how to properly use it. She said the result will be the ability to develop lessons that are more detailed and tailored to different students’ needs.

“It is important teachers engage with the technology at this early developmental stage so they are able to contribute to its development as an educational tool,” she said.

“Schools are already working on developing policies for its use, but these often focus on students’ misuse of the technology and not so much on how and when teachers can or should use it.

“The real benefit will hopefully be the use of such technologies to help individualise learning materials and approaches for students so they are able to learn in ways that suit their talents, abilities and interests.”

Dr Tinkler said AI could prompt teachers to reconsider and re-evaluate current approaches to teaching and learning.

By getting to know students better, and the ways in which they learn, Dr Tinkler said AI can be used to develop learning suited to individual needs.

She said teachers also need to monitor the implications of AI use for students as they transition to senior school, where they are thinking about future careers.

She said the role of the University in educating future teachers is to inform the next generation of the industry about new and emerging technologies.

“We are currently training new teachers who are both university students and future teachers, so they are seeing AI’s use from both perspectives,” she said.

“AI is going to be a permanent part of teaching and learning in the future, and our students also need to be learning about this technology now as it develops and new ways of teaching and learning evolve.”

Dr Tinkler said teachers need to be aware of the implications of AI use for their students as they transition to senior school where students are considering future careers.

She said this was especially important in a university context where they are being trained to enter specific professions.