"i'd love a microchip in my brain because there would be no homework." - School Children Reimagine the Future of Education with Emerging Technologies

Abstract

Emerging technologies like virtual reality, robots, and Generative AI are positioned as transformative forces in shaping the future of education. However, there is a lack of understanding of children's perspectives on these technologies' impact on their education as well as the role they see technology playing in the future. To address this, we conducted workshops with Finnish 12-13-year-olds to explore their visions for future of education and learning. Our findings reveal a significant desire for change in the children's visions for their future education, with classrooms that are more interactive, egalitarian, and exam-free, emphasizing engagement and creativity. Children re-envision the evolving role of human teachers in collaborating with AI and robots. This study contributes by bringing children's voices into discussions on societal impacts of emerging technologies.