On the afternoon of 27 February, BritCham Shanghai Education Committee hosted an insightful event related to AI and Education at the Chamber Office.
The gathering commenced with a warm welcome from Dr Lionel Huntley Henderson, Head of School, School of Business and Management of The Sino-British College, Vice Chair of BritCham Shanghai Education Committee, who extended his greetings to all the attendees.
Dr Martin Lockstrom, the Executive Director of the International Institute of Operations Management, kicked off the event with a presentation titled “The Impact of AI on Education.” The presentation delved into four key areas:
Firstly, it provided an overview of how Artificial Intelligence (AI) can positively affect education, highlighting its potential to enhance personalised learning experiences for students. Secondly, it discussed various AI technologies such as machine learning, natural language processing, and computer vision, and how they can be applied to develop adaptive learning platforms, intelligent tutoring systems, and automated grading systems. Thirdly, it stressed the significance of maintaining data privacy and security when implementing AI in education, emphasising the importance of transparent data collection practices and robust cybersecurity measures to safeguard sensitive student information. Lastly, it addressed the challenges and considerations involved in integrating AI into education, including the necessity for teacher training, ethical concerns related to AI algorithms, and the potential impact on traditional teaching methodologies.
The following panel discussion was moderated by Dr Martin. The panel included Yaroslav Artsishevskiy, Science and Engineering Teacher of WOW Kids and Design and Technology Teacher of Dingwen Academy Hangzhou, Douglas Fenech, Teacher of Shanghai Pinghe School, Benjamin Pearce, Teacher of Blueprint Training and Charlie Reis, Educational Developer for Learning and Teaching of Xi’an Jiaotong Liverpool University.
The panel discussed the insightful overview of the AI impact on Education in the future and how to make a balance and allow to use AI in the teaching field, shared their recent vivid experience in the Education industry, and centred on the tangible value derived from these investments. Approaching the topic from business and teacher’s standpoint.
Firstly, the panels agreed that AI is a powerful tool, and emphasised that understanding the strategies to use AI and guiding students on how to use AI properly should precede because we need to keep up with the rapid pace of technological advancement. One panellist suggested conceptualising AI as a tutor accessible to all, capable of facilitating discussions and improving student productivity and work quality. The importance of handling data with sensitivity was underscored, acknowledging its potential for tutoring based on its depth, but emphasising the necessity of understanding its usage and managing expectations regarding outcomes.
Secondly, the ease of access and convenience of AI make it challenging to prevent students from using it. The panel agreed on the importance of teaching students to realise the importance of self-study and how to effectively use AI as a tool. While it may be feasible to detect AI usage in smaller classes by individually checking each student’s assignments, this becomes impractical in larger class settings during the evaluation process.
Thirdly, the panels identified the challenge of how to structure the class and design the strategic process of evaluating assignments. They concurred that while AI may assume certain educational roles, human educators remain indispensable, focusing on personalised interactions with students. The potential benefits of mass customisation in training and assessment, enhanced research skills, curriculum adaptability, and increased student engagement were discussed.
Lastly, panellists shared suggestions such as integrating gaming to aid teachers in transitioning to AI use in the classroom. They proposed developing integration systems and standardised frameworks for AI implementation in schools to address the rapid pace of technological change. Emphasis was placed on the necessity of thoroughly scrutinising AI systems in education for biases to ensure accuracy and inclusivity.
This event facilitated lively discussions among panellists from diverse backgrounds, actively involving the audience. The BritCham Shanghai Education Committee will continue to organise insightful events aimed at navigating the intersections of technology and education.
Among the esteemed attendees were representatives from prominent organisations such as The University of Manchester China Centre, Fugumobile Limited, SHANGHAI MAIBO, Wellington College, Deutsche Schule Shanghai, German School Shanghai Yangpu (DSSY), Mind Makers, Xian Jiaotong-Liverpool University, YK Pao School, Wise, RPConsulting, Antai College of Economics and Management, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai Moocxing Technology Co., Ltd and Elite Educational Institute.
