From Books to Bots

Abstract

The use of AI in school education is still in its infancy (Southgate et al., 2018); however,there is an increasing expectation for teachers to become “AI Ready” – able to integrate AIsafely and effectively into student learning, teaching students about how AI works and theimportance of using these powerful tools ethically (Luckin et al., 2022 p. XIV). This researchproject acknowledges the leading role TLs can play in shifting mindsets and practiceregarding generative AI platforms and will provide the groundwork for future investigationswhich more deeply investigate specific implementations of these or other similar tools.While the initial response of school systems might be fight (locking down access) orflight (pretending these platforms do not exist), a planned and informed strategy forembedding AI capabilities into educational practice, led by the TL as an information andpedagogical expert, is more likely to bring about long-term positive outcomes for studentswho will be learning and living in a world increasingly shaped by algorithms and automation.