The Rise of AI in Education and Its Challenges
Integrating cutting-edge technologies, such as Artificial Intelligence (AI) Generative models, into classrooms has brought numerous benefits for both students and teachers. However, ensuring their proper use also presents new challenges in the learning process.
During the 1st Forum on Upper Secondary Education organized by Tecnológico de Monterrey, Gerardo Saucedo Ramírez, a media and digital culture professor at Tecnológico de Monterrey’s Estado de México campus, highlighted that it is now inevitable for students to incorporate AI into their tasks and research. Consequently, educators must prioritize critical thinking and creativity.
“As teachers, we must be facilitators of tools for our students because they are already using them, perhaps even more than many of us, and not necessarily in an appropriate manner,” Saucedo explains.
Challenges in AI Adoption
In response, Saucedo outlined several challenges posed by the use of these technologies in education:
- Transparency: Teachers need to verify the reasoning behind students’ creations and determine if AI was merely a support tool or the primary creator.
- Bias: Not all educational institutions or students have the resources or connectivity to leverage AI effectively.
- Intellectual property and plagiarism: It’s crucial to educate students on the ethical use of AI to prevent plagiarism or misinformation. While AI tools can detect plagiarism, they only provide probabilities, not definitive proof.
- Resistance to change: Many teachers are reluctant to learn new technologies, creating a generational and technological gap that hinders pedagogical innovation.
Saucedo emphasizes that the key is to use AI while considering students’ capabilities, focusing on the process rather than just the outcome.
Best Practices for AI Integration
Saucedo agrees that educators should learn to collaborate with AI as a support tool, not a replacement for human knowledge. He recommends adjustments such as:
- Redesign activities: Focus on the process, oral presentations, critical thinking, application of knowledge, personal reflections, and in-class writing.
- Teach AI usage: Employ AI as a pedagogical tool for research, brainstorming, and correction.
- Promote authorship: Emphasize the importance of original voice and analysis.
- Open dialogue: Encourage honest conversations with students about AI, asking them to explain how it’s working and which tools they’re using.
AI Tools Overview
Saucedo mentioned several AI Generative tools revolutionizing learning, emphasizing the need to understand how they function:
- Transformers: ChatGPT, Gemini, Copilot
- Image Diffusers: Midjourney, Stable Diffusion, Nano Banana
- Video Diffusers: SORA, ElevenLabs, VEED.io
While some tools are free with competitive reach, paid versions offer a superior experience. For instance, ChatGPT Plus provides access to advanced models, Gemini Pro offers extended functionalities, and Adobe Firefly integrates AI for image generation and editing within Creative Cloud.
