Can robots really replace human teachers?
This academic research explores the potential of artificial intelligence and robotics to address the global teacher shortage crisis.
Several years before the artificial intelligence revolution that reached people like you and me worldwide, industry leads, and researchers were already tackling artificial intelligence.
Solving the teacher recruitment crisis
This paper, ‘Why not robot teachers: Artificial intelligence for addressing teachers shortage’ (Edwards & Cheok, 2018), argues for a future classroom with independent robot teachers!
The global teacher shortage is a growing concern with significant implications for the future of education. With increasing student enrolments and declining interest in teaching careers, traditional pathways into teaching, or how we currently define the work of a teacher, may be insufficient.
The research explores the potential of robotics and Artificial Intelligence in Education (AIED) to fill this gap and proposes that robots could take on independent teaching roles. This would offer a solution to the teacher shortage by providing consistent, high-quality instruction without the limitations of human teachers.
Is this a joke?
Some people reading this will laugh out loud, and others will actually believe this is a genuine solution to the future of teaching. In today’s landscape, a hybrid option is the most likely, and here I’m going to default to Hattie’s meta-analysis and remind you and I, that the great intervention in a child’s progress is the teacher!
The next question should be, ‘Should the teacher be a robot?’
There are all sorts of questions that now emerge. Should a child log on or attend school physically? Will a robot ever empathise with a child? What safeguarding procedures are needed? How can robots learn from humans when new knowledge is discovered, or vice versa? I could write a blog on all the questions we need to consider…
Lots of solutions, but what about student empathy?
The teacher shortage crisis threatens the goal of universal primary education. Traditional solutions are failing to keep pace with increasing student numbers and declining teacher training. AI and robotics offer a promising alternative that is capable of tireless and emotion-free teaching.
Robots could address issues such as job dissatisfaction, lack of recognition, and the need for continuous professional development, providing a stable and efficient teaching workforce. Additionally, the economic benefits of AI and robotics in education could revolutionise how teaching is delivered, especially in under-resourced areas, subjects or age groups.
Things to consider
If AI and robotics were to be used on a mass scale to harness their potential in education, it would be crucial to design robotic teachers with capabilities in instructional delivery, social interaction, and emotional engagement. These robots would need to exhibit social presence, manage classroom interactions and safeguarding, and effectively deliver the curriculum. The research outlines the development of a robot prototype, focusing on its ability to interact with students, provide personalised instruction, and maintain classroom dynamics.
Reflection questions for teachers:
- How would teachers feel about incorporating robots into their classrooms?
- What tasks could robots perform to support human teachers?
- How can robots help address the teacher shortage in under-resourced areas?
- What are the potential challenges of using robots in the classroom?
- How can teachers ensure that robots enhance rather than replace human interaction?
- What training would teachers need to work effectively with robot assistants?
- How can robots be designed to meet the emotional and social needs of students?
- What ethical considerations should be addressed when using robots in education?
- How can schools balance the use of technology with traditional teaching methods?
- What are the long-term implications of AI and robotics in education?
The research concludes:
“Robots hold many advantages over human teachers, and the economic implications of these factors, coupled with developments in AI, robotics, and machine learning, suggest that in the future, the teacher’s job could be performed more effectively by robots.”
We should ALL consider the evolving role of teachers in an AI-driven educational landscape. It’s a topic that won’t be going away…
Download and read the full paper.
Image: ChatGPT 4.0
Realy important article! We need to be thinking about AI in education.
AI in education has a lot of benefits but poses a lot of challenges for teachers. As a language teacher it is not 100% correct but students do not take the time to check this.