Under the headline "Artificial Intelligence is not the hero... the real heroes are the teachers and students," four of America's leading scholars and education experts have penned an article in "Scientific American" on the potential of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance education rather than threaten it. This opportunity arises if we learn from the adoption of calculators in classrooms.

Concerns about Artificial Intelligence

The researchers highlighted the swift expansion in the use of “ChatGPT” and other AI tools, sparking a sharp debate in academic circles. On one hand, teachers and professors are concerned about the future of post-secondary learning and the threats facing traditional disciplines, especially in the humanities, with headlines warning of the "end of the English major." On the other hand, AI is here to stay, with about a third of kindergarten to high school teachers reporting their use of AI in classrooms, according to a recent study. However, many experts in higher education policy, science policy, and university design criticize or reject generative AI.

The researchers added, "We are certainly optimistic that (AI) will follow a pattern seen in other technologies that have enhanced access to education and success."

The four researchers are Michael M. Crow, president of Arizona State University and a professor of science and technology policy; Nicole K. Mayberry, assistant professor at the College of Public Affairs at Arizona State University; Ted Mitchell, president of the American Council on Education and former U.S. Deputy Secretary of Education; and Derek Anderson, senior vice president of the future of education at the American Council on Education and associate professor of science and technology policy at Arizona State University.

Teachers and Students: The Real Heroes of Education

The researchers believe that the adoption of new technologies can revolutionize key aspects of learning, including curriculum, teaching, and assessment. "We are optimistic about AI, but we do not see it as the hero... The real heroes are the students and teachers of human learning, even when it comes to AI."

Historical evidence supports this view. From the Gutenberg press to online math lessons, technologies that have improved access to quality learning opportunities are often met with skepticism and rejection, especially by those in control of classrooms.

The Success of Calculators

Consider the calculator. A survey by "Mathematics Teacher" magazine in the mid-1970s found that 72 percent of respondents most of them teachers and mathematicians opposed providing seventh-grade students with calculators. This survey, highlighted in "Science News" in 1975, reflected the general sentiment at a time when costs were nearing a point where some schools could afford to provide a calculator for every student.

Calculators faced resistance from teachers who feared that overreliance on technology would erode students' math skills. As one professor noted, "I’m not yet convinced that handing them a machine and teaching them how to press a button is the right approach. What do they do when the battery runs out?"

The calculator scenario mirrors current concerns about generative AI, with critics arguing that students might never learn to write or respond to written prompts independently if they can simply ask AI to do it for them.

The possibility of internet or server outages raises fears that students will not be able to write a simple sentence or compose a basic five-paragraph essay.

Narrow arguments over essay integrity and potential declines in learning quality overlook the broader perspective that using this technology can positively reshape curriculum, teaching, and assessment.

In classrooms, technology, curricula, teaching, and assessment evolve together to reshape education. This was historically seen with calculators and is now happening in real-time with the emergence of generative AI tools.

The introduction of calculators into classrooms did not spell the doom of math education; instead, it significantly expanded its scope while inspiring educators and academics to rethink the educational boundaries of math, fostering a climate conducive to innovation.

Creativity and Innovation

In a parallel context, generative AI promises to extend this kind of innovation into critical thinking and the humanities, making it easier for students to grasp fundamental concepts and explore advanced topics with confidence. Generative AI can offer personalized support, adapting to each student's individual pace and learning style, making education more inclusive and tailored to specific needs.

Generative AI can enhance the humanities by making reading and writing accessible to diverse students, including those with learning difficulties or challenges with traditional writing methods.

As calculators led us to reevaluate old teaching methods and adopt more effective educational approaches, generative AI calls for a similar transformation in how we handle tasks, manage classrooms, and assess the learning process.