The Teachers Union, AOB, has called for national guidelines to be established for the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in schools. The union believes that AI is already being used in classrooms, but teachers and schools are still not fully aware of how to deal with it in an educational context. The potential risks of AI, especially when it comes to children, are considered significant, and the union wants clear guidelines to help mitigate these risks.
The lack of research into the impact of AI in education is highlighted, with concerns raised over the use of generative AI tools, like ChatGPT, for homework by students. The fear is that this could lead to more discrimination in education and could give tech companies undue influence over teaching materials.
AOB believes that national guidelines could help raise awareness of these concerns and provide teachers and students with more practical tools on how to use AI responsibly. The union is already working on its own guideline, but it wants to involve other organizations, including the Ministry of Education.
State Secretary Mariëlle Paul of Primary- and Secondary Education and Emancipation has acknowledged the potential benefits of AI in personalizing learning and supporting teachers, but also recognizes the concerns raised by its rapid development. She supports initiatives to make teachers AI-skilled, including digital literacy training and free AI courses offered through the Dutch AI coalition.
In response to the teachers union’s call, the ministry’s position is unclear, with State Secretary Paul emphasizing the importance of teachers managing AI use in the classroom and the need for a balanced approach that leverages the technology’s potential while addressing concerns about its impact.
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