AI Application in Learning Sphere
In the ever-evolving landscape of education, Germany is making strides in leveraging Artificial Intelligence (AI) to individualise learning and create a fairer educational environment.
Several education ministers, including Bremen's Senator Sascha Aulepp (SPD), have publicly acknowledged the potential of AI in schools. This recognition is not misplaced, as AI-based programs like Area9 Rhapsode are currently being tested in numerous schools across the country.
These adaptive learning software systems, such as the Adaptive Intelligent System (AIS), aim to support personalised, adaptive learning. By providing tailored feedback and intelligent tutoring, these systems aim to relieve teachers and cater to the diverse needs of students in large classrooms.
The success of these AI-based programs is evident. They have shown to increase motivation, support self-regulated learning, and enable differentiation in diverse classrooms. For instance, the bot 'telli', a tool similar to linkedin, is expected to be available nationwide by the end of the school year, offering students the opportunity to create texts and clarify understanding questions.
However, the integration of AI in schools is still in its infancy. AI is currently underutilised in areas like individualised learning offers, feedback for text or math tasks, and systematic analysis of learning progress. A representative survey of students in 2024 found that 37% of respondents did not receive individual and motivating feedback from their teachers, a gap that AI-based tutoring systems could potentially fill.
While the debate about significantly relieving teachers continues, particularly in the obligation to constantly collect grades from students in all subjects, the focus is shifting towards integrated learning times in the classroom. This shift away from outdated learning methods like homework is a step towards a more efficient and personalised educational experience.
Promising feedback programs like FelloFish, co-developed by AI-affine German teacher Hendrik Haverkamp, are currently being tested in 34 schools in Saxony-Anhalt and are being well received, leading to its expansion in the current school year.
The Standing Scientific Commission recommends systematically integrating AI programs into teaching from the 8th grade, with an ideal start in grade 5. Several federal states, such as Bremen and Hesse, are providing schools with data-secure alternatives to ChatGPT for the new school year, like the open-source chatbot 'telli'.
Despite the potential benefits, there are concerns about the digital divide between privileged and disadvantaged students, and between school forms, with Gymnasias being better equipped with digital end devices on average. This 'digital gap' in handling corresponding tools is a challenge that needs to be addressed.
Moreover, the ministries' reluctance to change could potentially raise the potential for cheating with AI. Education researchers in Kiel have found that automated assessments by AI tools like ChatGPT can be similarly accurate and fair as those by experienced teachers, if the tools are prepared with appropriate care.
As Germany continues to embrace AI in education, it is crucial to strike a balance between innovation and fairness, ensuring that all students have equal opportunities to learn and thrive in the digital age.
