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UK'S FIRST 'TEACHERLESS' AI CLASSROOM SET TO OPEN IN LONDON

A private school in London is opening the UK's first classroom taught by
artificial intelligence instead of human teachers. They say the technology
allows for precise, bespoke learning while critics argue AI teaching will lead
to a "soulless, bleak future".

By Mickey Carroll, science and technology reporter

Saturday 31 August 2024 00:33, UK

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Inside UK's first 'teacherless class'
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Why you can trust Sky News

The UK's first "teacherless" GCSE class, using artificial intelligence instead
of human teachers, is about to start lessons.

David Game College, a private school in London, opens its new teacherless course
for 20 GCSE students in September.



The students will learn using a mixture of artificial intelligence platforms on
their computers and virtual reality headsets.


Image: A student at David Game College tests out the new teacherless AI
technology

The platforms learn what the student excels in and what they need more help
with, and then adapt their lesson plans for the term.

Strong topics are moved to the end of term so they can be revised, while weak
topics will be tackled more immediately, and each student's lesson plan is
bespoke to them.



Image: John Dalton, co-principal of David Game College, says AI can be more
precise than human teachers

"There are many excellent teachers out there but we're all fallible," said John
Dalton, the school's co-principal.

"I think it's very difficult to achieve [AI's] level of precision and accuracy,
and also that continuous evaluation.


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"Ultimately, if you really want to know exactly why a child is not learning, I
think the AI systems can pinpoint that more effectively."

The 20 students will pay around £27,000 a year.

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Image: GCSE students Joseph and Michael think the technology will help them
improve faster than traditional teaching

"A teacher doesn't really know your flaws because he has so many students," said
Joseph, a GCSE student at David Game College who has been testing the system.

"So he doesn't know your flaws while the AI will figure out what your flaws are
and help you improve."

The students are not just left to fend for themselves in the classroom; three
"learning coaches" will be present to monitor behaviour and give support.

They will also teach the subjects AI currently struggles with, like art and sex
education.


Image: Ex-teache Alexander Vansittart will be a 'learning coach' in the AI
classroom

Alexander Vansittart, a former Latin teacher who taught SEN students, has joined
the college to become a learning coach.

"I got really excited about what this could do for young people, how it could
help them change their lives. That's why I applied for the job; because I
believe this will change lives," he said.

However, the idea of handing over children's education to artificial
intelligence is controversial.

Chris McGovern is a retired head teacher and a former advisor to the policy unit
at 10 Downing Street. He now runs the Campaign for Real Education and says
although AI has a role to play in the classroom, this takes it too far.

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"I understand why [schools] may push AI. For one thing, it's cheaper," he said,
although David Game College denies this is a cheaper approach than its
traditional teaching, saying it has actually hired more personnel to run the
course.

"The problem with AI and the computer screen is that it is a machine and it's
inert, so you're straight away dehumanising the process of learning, taking away
those interpersonal skills and the interaction between pupils and teacher," he
added.

"It's a soulless, bleak future if it's going to be along the AI path only."

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Artificial intelligence is already used in classrooms around the country,
helping to bring subjects to life, assisting with lesson plans for example.


Image: A student at David Game College uses VR goggles in the school's new AI
classroom

In fact, on Wednesday, the government announced a new project to help teachers
use AI more precisely. A bank of anonymised lesson plans and curriculums will
now be used to train different educational AI models which will then help
teachers mark homework and plan out their classes.

"Artificial Intelligence, when made safe and reliable, represents an exciting
opportunity to give our schools' leaders and teachers a helping hand with
classroom life," said Stephen Morgan, minister for early education.

But at this college, AI is not just giving a helping hand, it's taking the
reins.


RELATED TOPICS

 * Artificial Intelligence
 * Education






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