I have my frustrations with our education system, shared by just about every teacher I ever met: intense workloads, results pressure, archaic systems that don't really serve our students, and being at the brunt of every governement's need to make their mark and prove how great they are. To name a few.
There is so much I have wanted to change about my profession. I hoped Covid would change more than it did, but aside from schools using TEAMS a bit more and kids being allowed to wear their gym kits on PE days, we have simply gone back to 'normal'. But what is normal about a workforce on its knees with stress and students filled with anxiety and boredom?
Artificial intelligence is a way we can change education for the better.
After months of trawling through articles, following every techie on social media, taking notes on documentaries and watching every sci-fi movie I could find, I wholeheartedly believe that this technology is a huge, huge opportunity to improve things. And this is coming from someone who used to be a bit of a technophobe, so if you're one of those teachers who responds to the words 'artificial intelligence' with a blank, unknowing or maybe even fearful experession, worry not.
You do not need to be a tech expert to use AI.
However, it is handy to know one...
If I hadn't met Dan a year ago, I am sure this first wave of AI would have passed me by. His vision of where AI could take humanity inspired me to investigate further. I signed up for ChatGPT and never looked back. It has saved me hours and hours of work. AI has become my assistant. Made me resources in minutes. Written whole schemes of work cross-referenced with the curriculum and current trends as I sat back and watched it work while sipping lemon tea. I have collaborated with GPT-4 to write a booklet; I created the graphics for this website on Canva. And just wait until you see what AI can do for the students...
The possibilities are endless and I cannot wait to share them with you.
I know time is tight and the last thing teachers want is another fad to contend with, but as a teacher myself, I can see, with the right guidance and implementation, these tools are a game-changer.