The UK’s first ‘teacherless’ GCSE class, using artificial intelligence instead of human teachers, is about to start lessons.
David Game College, a private school in London, is opening its new teacher-free course for 20 GCSE students in September.
Students will learn using a mixture of artificial intelligence platforms on their computers and virtual reality headphones.
David Game College Student Tests New AI Technology Without a Teacher
The platforms learn what areas the student excels in and what areas they need extra help in, then adapt their lesson plans for the term.
Strong topics are moved to the end of the term so they can be revised, while weak topics will be addressed more immediately, and each student’s lesson plan is tailored to each of them.
John Dalton, co-director of David Game College, says AI can be more accurate than human teachers
“There are a lot of great teachers, but we’re all fallible,” said John Dalton, the school’s co-principal.
“I think it’s very difficult to achieve the level of precision and accuracy (of AI), and that continuous evaluation.
“Ultimately, if you really want to know exactly why a child is not learning, I think AI systems can detect that more effectively.”
The 20 students will pay around £27,000 a year.
GCSE students Joseph and Michael believe technology will help them improve faster than traditional teaching
“A teacher doesn’t really know your faults because they have so many students,” said Joseph, a GCSE student at David Game College who tested the system.
“So it doesn’t know your flaws whereas AI will find out what your flaws are and help you improve.”
Students are not left to their own devices in class; three “learning coaches” will be present to monitor behavior and support them.
They will also teach subjects that AI currently struggles with, such as art and sex education.
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Alexander Vansittart, a former Latin teacher who taught SEN students, has joined the college to become a learning coach.
“I was really excited about what this could do for young people, how it could help change their lives. That’s why I applied for this job, because I believe it’s going to change lives,” he said.
However, the idea of entrusting the education of children to artificial intelligence is controversial.
Chris McGovern is a retired headteacher and former adviser to the policy unit at 10 Downing Street. He now leads the Campaign for Real Education and believes that while AI has a role to play in classrooms, it is going too far.
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“I understand why (schools) might promote AI. For one thing, it’s cheaper,” he said, although David Game College denies that the approach is cheaper than its traditional teaching, saying it has actually hired more staff to deliver the course.
“The problem with AI and the computer screen is that it’s a machine and it’s inert, so you’re dehumanizing the learning process right away, taking away those interpersonal skills and the interaction between the students and the teacher,” he added.
“It will be a soulless and dark future if we only follow the path of AI.”
Artificial intelligence is already being used in classrooms across the country, helping to bring subjects to life, such as by assisting with lesson planning.
A David Game College student uses virtual reality goggles in the school’s new AI classroom
In fact, the government announced a new project on Wednesday to help teachers use AI more accurately. A bank of anonymized lesson plans and syllabi will now be used to train different educational AI models that will then help teachers grade assignments and plan lessons.
“Artificial intelligence, when made safe and reliable, represents an exciting opportunity to give our school leaders and teachers a helping hand in classroom life,” said Stephen Morgan, Minister of Early Childhood Education.
But at this school, AI doesn’t just lend a hand, it takes the reins.
