AI in Education

Barker welcomed Dan Bowen from Microsoft Australia to work with students and staff this term.

Dan is an experienced educator with a wealth of expertise in using technology to enhance student learning. He has led STEM and Skills for Microsoft Australia and runs an AI in education podcast. Barker staff were lucky to have Dan run an afternoon professional learning session on AI in Education. Dan emphasised that AI has already impacted society, citing examples from bush regeneration to targeting criminal behaviour. The most recent leap forward is a result of the increased availability of sophisticated AI models, the most well-known of which is ChatGPT. The developments in this technology are being harnessed by companies like Microsoft, who have already developed integrations with their Office Suite.

So, what does this mean for education?

One fascinating insight came from our students. Students indicated the value of AI as a tool to support their learning. AI might help them start a task, understand a new concept, or provide instant feedback on a piece of work. While these are all possible using AI, students also recognised the importance of their relationship with their teacher in the classroom.

AI allows teachers to take away repetitive administrative tasks, provide more time for face-toface interactions, and helps them to guide students towards their learning goals. New opportunities to use AI in the classroom are emerging every day, for example, allowing students to chat with historical figures or fictional characters from a novel they are studying. The ability for students to engage in literature in new and exciting ways is limitless. These opportunities are not without challenges. Students must still develop the ability to comprehend the intricacies of a problem, detect bias, consider emotions and ethics, and think creatively and independently to generate innovative ideas. Therefore, promoting open-ended discussions, hands-on activities, and project-based learning remains crucial to education. Barker has an ongoing commitment to ensure all opportunities presented by new technologies, such as AI, are implemented in a considered way to improve educational outcomes.

Dr Andy Mifsud Director Digital Learning Innovation

Stephen Liseo Digital Learning & Innovation Leader

Gabi Corderoy Digital Learning Leader Stephen Liseo Acting Director Digital Learning