Ever since the whispers of COVID-19 began, artificial intelligence has taken the lead in transforming by and large every sector across India, including education. A study, conducted by TeamLease EdTech, has found that nearly 62% of educators in the country are using AI tools for teaching, preparation, and student management.
The report titled, "Revolutionising Classrooms: The Impact of Generative AI on the Future of Education", reveals that 61.60% are already using AI tools for teaching, preparation and student engagement and 63.61% believe that AI is crucial in preparing students for an AI-dominated future.
"This report underscores the fact that AI is no more just an emerging technology but a reality that is already reshaping classrooms across India," shares Shantanu Rooj, founder and CEO. "The perspectives of over 6,000+ educators provide invaluable direction on how to harness AI responsibly so that students are equipped with future-ready skills”.
Meanwhile, 70.85% educators believe the impact of Generative AI will be more profound than that of the smartphone revolution. At the same time, 87.85% agree that the development and application of AI technologies should be monitored and regulated by the government, reflecting concerns about risks and ethical implications.
Additionally, it’s also crucial for educators to be up-skilled at the quick pace at which technology is seeping into education. In accord, more than 50% of educators think that teachers should get AI training as technology has reduced the time they spend on class preparation. A significant 66.77% of the educators have said that AI tools can be used for upskilling.
“This report provides a blueprint for educators to integrate AI in a strategic, ethical and impactful manner. By highlighting key opportunities, challenges and recommendations directly from teachers, it enables stakeholders to adopt AI in a way that truly augments human potential rather than replacing it,” says Neeti Sharma, co-founder and president, TeamLease Edtech.
However, key concerns remain around risks like diminishing creativity and overreliance on technology with 9.49% of the educators perceiving this as a negative development. Their concerns are rooted in issues like the “potential diminishing of human interactions in teaching, over-reliance on technology, and worries about data privacy and the accuracy of information".
“If we implement the AI tool we need to have proper monitoring and control system in place and it has to have very balanced use to students so that they will not depend completely on Chat GPT or other,” says Dr Swati Verma Sood, an educator.
Although more than 50% of educators think that teachers should get AI training as the technology has reduced the time they spend on class preparation.
What is needed for successful generative AI integration in classrooms along with ensuring educators are thoroughly trained in using AI tools effectively is a balanced approach. According to the report, the majority (62.88%) of the educators favoured a 'balanced approach to AI use in classrooms'. While only 17.05% of educators advocated for the unrestricted use of AI in classrooms.
