Machine Learning: How is AI being used in UK schools?

Artificial intelligence is a topic that's dominating most industries and continues to generate questions and curiosity for people both professionally and personally. Whether excited or concerned about the potential influence of AI on the way we live and carry out our work, it's looking like it's here to stay. As with any new technology that arrives on the market, there's a race we often see between industries and organisations alike wanting to quickly learn and embrace it in order to stay competitive. The digital landscape is perhaps the most likely to grow and change following the increase of AI, and the education sector is one that is already seeing an increase in AI-powered EdTech solutions that aim to transform the way education is delivered to students. 

AI and Young Teachers

The way we use technology in education has continued to evolve over the years however AI certainly feels like a major chapter in the EdTech timeline. By automating processes and implementing machine learning (pardon the pun), AI integration aims to help teachers carry out their roles in a more efficient and effective way. In June 2023, Acuity Training asked 1332 people about using AI in their professions and 37.39% said to have used AI in their job. This number drastically changes by age, with 56.04% of 16-24 year olds having used it. 

This younger age group stands out as we’ve recently discussed the teacher recruitment crisis that exists in the UK, and how EdTech can play a role in helping recruit younger teachers. With AI naturally suiting modern digital solutions, such as data management systems and educational applications, it makes sense that it's perhaps a more attractive and perhaps even more important resource for younger people. By integrating AI tools and platforms into curriculums, young teachers may be able to use this technology to improve teaching quality and student engagement. 

Cause for Concern?

Before jumping into how exactly AI is being used in UK schools, it's worth considering the potential concerns and areas of uncertainty that exist around AI. As with any new tech, there is going to be a learning curve for all who use it, from staff to students. It’s important that staff get the necessary training and support when introducing a new tool, platform or system. Without this, it becomes easier for potential negatives of AI to become more apparent. 

So what are some common concerns? First and foremost is the issue of data privacy and security, as AI systems often require access to personal student information. Knowingly allowing an outside organisation access to such data can bring about anxiety over its safety and questions about their data security. Additionally, the overreliance on AI in the classroom might diminish the importance of human interaction and critical thinking skills, as students may become overly dependent on technology for learning. This can impact student development and lead to core skills being underutilised.

Furthermore, the use of generative AI in the form of chatbots and writing assistants raises significant concerns over plagiarism. By typing in basic commands, such as the title of an essay, these AI writing tools can generate not only an outline, but the full piece of content. These tools have even been banned in some schools to avoid any risk of students using them to fabricate pieces of work and plagiarise existing content. 

For academic senior leaders, we have to balance the needs of the people now with the obligation to prepare young people for their future lives, There is no future landscape that plays out without the exponential growth of AI in the medium term, so how can we support young people and teachers with responsible and creative ice of AI in education?

AI Usage in Schools

It may be impossible to make a blanket statement for all schools, academies and MATs in regards to how they use AI, but there are some stand out ways that AI has been integrated into teaching and learning:

1. Personalised learning: Due to machine learning capabilities, AI can be used to develop personalised learning experiences for individual students, based on their past work and learning style. It’ll then provide the necessary data to help teachers better understand a specific students’ learning processes.

2. Natural language processing: NLP can be used in educational tools that can understand and respond to human language. If a student is struggling with their grammar, NLP-powered writing assistants can provide automated feedback on grammar, style, and clarity. This can save time for teachers and let them focus on other areas that might require immediate attention.

3. Gamification: A fairly new and exciting topic in education is gamification, and AI can be integrated to further enhance education games by introducing personalisation and making them more adaptive. 

4. Automated grading: AI-powered grading tools can accurately and efficiently grade essays, tests, and other assignments. They can also generate automated gradebooks and report cards for each student. It’s another tool that can significantly help teachers who often have large workloads. 

The Future of AI in UK Schools

AI has the potential to play a big role in the way we teach and learn, and its integration in UK schools has already begun. AI-powered learning platforms and tools are providing personalised learning experiences for each student, aiming to improve student outcomes and enhance teacher productivity. While there are concerns with AI, notably surrounding data privacy and plagiarism, the benefits do exist and as the technology continues to grow, so will the effectiveness of the solutions to education providers.

At Novatia, we support UK schools and MATs with IT support using decades of experience and expertise. AI is relatively new to us as well, and just like you, we’re continuing to learn how it can impact the education sector. From an IT perspective, AI integrations are becoming commonplace and there is still a host of untapped potential. We’re looking forward to seeing how AI will evolve and the role it’ll have in EdTech and UK education.

Get in touch with us for a friendly chat about any AI concerns or questions you may have. We enjoy learning and progressing ourselves as a business so collaborating and gaining a better understanding is something we wholeheartedly encourage.