Will AI Replace Thinking in the Classroom?

Will teachers or even thinking become obsolete as we look ahead to the future of classrooms?

And so it begins…

The back to school fever is in full swing at the time of posting this article and if you are a teacher … I am here for you.

As teachers are expected to adapt to new approaches and technological advancements in education, even more questions may begin to surface.

Let’s have a look at some of these questions together, shall we?

Will classrooms as we know them become obsolete in the next five years?

Is the popularity of online classrooms on the rise?

Is our life becoming so fast paced, that students would rather have online classes while doing other activities?

But the most popular of questions teachers have to face every school year is:

Why do we, as students, have to learn this?

No doubt, that with the introduction of Google, SIRI, ALEXA, and now AI technology in the form of ChatGPT, teachers are competing to teach students the benefits of learning complex, but apparently useless topics, such as alegbra and calculus.

So, when students deem more and more topics useless and ask;

why do I have to learn this if I am never going to use it in my life..

what would be the appropriate response?

Teachers, I got you.

The appropriate teacher response is … “students, it’s so your brain doesn’t go numb”.

It’s not the intricate works of algebra or calculus that should be the focus, it’s so you as students, can better your problem-solving skills!

That is … if you see problem-solving as something useful in life.

Real Time Chats in the Classroom

Everyone agrees that approaches to teaching has to change because teachers are competing with the Internet when it comes to educating while keeps topics entertaining.

ChatGPT has made sharing, presenting, and providing knowledge easier, and therefore, teachers are no longer seen as the valuable sources of knowledge they once were.

So what does that mean for time spent in the classroom?

It means that more interactivie activities in the classroom so students can get creative in how they understand knowledge shared.

Chatting in the classroom shouldn’t be left to AI technology.

Students can reconnect with their core subjects of math and science through more creative outlets.

Let’s start with every day math. Give students an exercise in eating out with friends and ask;

Calculate your part of a dinner bill on the spot without using your phone?

or

Can you calculate how much tax you have to pay before you actually buy that new phone?

The point is for teachers to incorporate real world applications for knowledge gained from textbook learning.

This is simply because students are running out of patience when it comes to learning because “thinking” about topics in education is handled quicker through technology.

Students make think, “If ChatGPT can give me an answer to my problems, why should I bother thinking or learning about it?”

Patience in the Classroom

Patience is running out as the Internet gets faster, and so time is of the utmost importance in the classroom.

If students feel that the activities they do in the classroom benefits them while gaining the lesson’s objectives, then it will be better for everyone.

This is the new challenge.

Working to balance the lack of patience students feel with more creative outlets to combat boredom can help strength the teacher and student relationship in the classroom.

How Patience Build Thinking Skills

It is not AI that builds thinking skills — it is paitence. AI can help students get creative with how they think about presenting their knowledge to the others in the classroom.

What AI should never do is be allowed to think for students. This is something teachers should make clear to students on the first day of school.

The future of classrooms will continue to evolve with the advent of new technology that is meant to make life easier, but the trade off should never be that it takes away students’ abilities to think for themselves inside or outside the classroom.

Reminding students the value patience brings to how they think can benefit in all aspects of life.

Life includes problem solving, organization, communication, and of course critical thinking skills. Therefore students should learn to use AI in a way that benefits these skills and not take the easy way out and let AI do all the thinking for them.

Final Thoughts…

In the end, we as teachers really don’t know how AI technology will impact on the the future of classrooms, but we can build awareness around the idea that what makes humans survive is how we think.

What teachers and students should focus on is the opportunity to better themselves through knowledge, trust, and mutual respect.

Teachers, have faith in this new school year!

I still believe after 20 years as an educator, students are worth it.

If you do too, then best wishes on a successful school year.

If you enjoyed this article, read my other articles on student learning and technology in the classroom.