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The Department of Education has released a report that raises concerns over the potential use of artificial intelligence (AI) systems to monitor teachers. The report, titled “Artificial Intelligence and the Future of Teaching and Learning,” highlights that introducing AI systems into classrooms carries the risk of increased surveillance of teachers, which could make their jobs “nearly impossible.” While the report recognizes that AI has the potential to make teaching more efficient and personalized, the department argues that AI should never be used as a substitute for human teachers.
The report raises questions about the role of AI in monitoring teachers and suggests that the introduction of AI could pose challenges to enhancing equity, reducing bias, and increasing cultural awareness. The report envisions the possibility of AI being used during live classroom sessions to capture data that can help teachers perform their duties. For example, an AI system could recommend educational resources based on the topics being taught. However, such systems could also be used to monitor teachers, which would have negative implications for their professional growth and development.
The Department of Education’s report stresses the importance of ensuring “adequate” protections against teacher surveillance. Policymakers must thus balance the potential benefits of AI use in the classroom against the possibility of increased teacher surveillance. The report also recommends that policymakers center educators and keep a humanistic view of teaching at the forefront while considering AI’s integration in the classroom.
The Biden administration’s focus on ensuring that AI systems do not lead to teacher surveillance could reignite the political debate over teacher authority and parental rights. Recently, Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona’s statement that “teachers know what is best for their kids” sparked criticism from Republicans about parents’ contribution to school curricula. The Department of Justice’s memo urging officials to investigate threats of violence against teachers also sparked controversy, with some Republican groups accusing the Biden administration of siding with teachers against parents.
In conclusion, while AI has the potential to benefit the education sector, policymakers must ensure that its integration does not undermine teachers’ professional growth while safeguarding students’ privacy and security. As the report recommends, policymakers must prioritize the centering of educators while implementing and regulating the use of AI in the classroom.
