By Matthew Weinberg, Founder – The Barrett School
The educational system in the U.S. needs to change. For too long, teachers have lectured their students in the top-down conventional educational model. Even lab classes for the sciences have led students down a highly structured, pre-planned route.
This approach has not only discouraged students from being active but also reduced their engagement. Perhaps it should come as no surprise, then, that outcomes have suffered.
Innovative schools are departing from these old ways and placing students at the center of their own education. Due to today’s sophisticated AI technology, these methods are more cost-effective and practical than ever.
The power of active learning
Studies have long shown that students master course material more effectively when they engage in active learning techniques, such as collaborative discussions, activities, and games, than when they sit and listen to a lecture. Recent research also demonstrates that active learning empowers students to take more control over their learning, resulting in increased interest and engagement. Their hearts and minds participate in the learning process, not just their ears.
In my experience, when students are empowered to make choices about their education, they enjoy having agency and embark upon an authentic learning experience. Since they are actually interested in what they are learning, they naturally take ownership of the process and become invested in their own advancement.
For a long time, this personalized approach for individual students has seemed out of reach for most, since each classroom has only had one teacher to go around. While it has been impossible for a single educator to engage every student in the classroom personally at the same time, today’s sophisticated AI technologies are a game-changer.
How AI tools enable active learning
Generative AIs now have the ability to hold high-level conversations about advanced information in real time with individuals, meaning there’s no longer any excuse for schools to subject their students to a passive, top-down education. With the help of AI’s tireless and instant guidance, students can go on their own specific adventures.
Surprisingly, this new approach can actually be traced back to ancient roots. The Ancient Greek philosopher Socrates was famous for engaging his students in mind-expanding conversations, asking them a series of questions until the truth was clear for all to see. This approach, called Socratic dialogue, is still used in many law schools today. While it can be confrontational and adversarial, it creates active participation, compels attention, and propels engagement.
Yet, educators shouldn’t just sit a student in front of an AI chat box and have them engage in conversations. Lessons must still have intentionality and direction. For instance, it’s now possible to create an AI chatbot that channels Socrates or Plato for a lesson on classical Greece that incorporates elements of philosophy and history, allowing students to converse with these famous figures and have a much more personal experience. This lesson is just one example: imagine lessons in which students learn about history by interacting with figures like Eisenhower, Charles de Gaulle, or Marie Curie.
AI can also create games for individual students. If the lesson is on the Revolutionary War, for example, the AI could guide the student through a scenario in which they play an American patriot traveling through Philadelphia, which is under British occupation at the time. In this way, the student can obtain a much more compelling and immediate understanding of the hardships that the American rebels faced during the fight for independence.
Since AIs sometimes hallucinate, however, accuracy must be assured. The AI’s training banks must be of high quality, and teachers are indispensable for providing oversight. Teaching students information literacy skills and encouraging them to vet ideas with external support from high-quality, unbiased sources is also advisable.
Curious minds direct their own learning organically
Many teachers and parents worry that, given the ability to choose, kids will go for the easiest subjects. However, that has not been my experience. Some students are naturally drawn to fields such as nuclear physics, quantum mechanics, or organic chemistry. While the conventional educational approach would make them wait until college to delve into these topics, there is no reason to put up artificial barriers and frustrate a curious mind.
The trick is to present the material in an age-appropriate manner. A fifth grader can do quantum physics and understand the differences between up and down quarks if you explain it using things they are familiar with, like gumballs.
Another thing that happens is that, if the student discovers they need to understand something from another field to understand their primary interest, then they will elect to explore this side path. If they find that they need to master a less advanced topic to master their primary interest, then they will choose to do this remedial work themselves. Starting with a more sophisticated topic isn’t a problem, since learners fill in the more basic, fundamental material themselves in an organic way, when it makes sense for their journey and they are motivated to do so.
The future of education is student-centered
Today’s cutting-edge generative AI resources, when used appropriately, open up whole new horizons for education. Schools that are willing to innovate are leading the way. Due to their trailblazing efforts, the future of education promises to center students, engaging them and enriching their minds better than ever.
— Matthew Weinberg is the founder of The Barrett School, the author behind “Professor Matt W,” and the host of the “Science Unboxed” podcast. During his over two decades of experience in education, he has taught in the classroom, developed curricula, and led educational institutions. He is passionate about making STEM education accessible, interactive, and engaging for students of all ages. Weinberg is a highly sought-after speaker on topics such as the future of education, AI in the classroom, and teaching strategies that inspire academic success.
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