Why AI Might Be the Least of EdTech's Worries

It was a typical Monday morning at Franklin High School, and all the Grade 9 students eagerly awaited Miss Jane's English class.

But as they walked into the classroom, they noticed something different. There were no textbooks, no notebooks, and no pencils on their desk. Instead, there were tablets.

Miss Jane stood at the front of the classroom, projecting her tablet onto the interactive whiteboard. She began the lesson on Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet.

The students opened their tablets and clicked on the edtech app. They were excited to try something new, something that would make learning easier, faster, and more fun.

But as they progressed through the lesson, they encountered some problems. The app kept crashing, the internet was slow, the questions were confusing, and the feedback was inaccurate.

The students became frustrated, anxious, and disengaged. They missed the tactile sensation of writing, the visual stimulation of reading, and the social interaction of discussing.

They realized that technology was not a panacea for education.

Some Quantifiable Examples

• According to a survey by EdWeek Market Brief, 87% of edtech companies struggle to make a profit, and 44% cite market saturation as their biggest challenge.
• According to a study by the University of California, Los Angeles, students who took notes by hand scored higher on conceptual questions than students who took notes on laptops.
• According to a report by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, the use of digital devices in classrooms does not necessarily lead to better learning outcomes.
• According to a survey by Common Sense Media, only 27% of teachers feel well-prepared to use technology effectively in the classroom.
• According to a report by the National Education Policy Center, most edtech products lack scientific evidence of their effectiveness.

An Eye-Catching Conclusion

1. Edtech is not a silver bullet. It cannot replace teachers, curriculum, or pedagogy. It can only enhance them.
2. Edtech should be user-centered, not technology-centered. It should prioritize the needs, preferences, and abilities of students and teachers.
3. Edtech should be evidence-based, not hype-based. It should be rigorously tested, validated, and compared against other interventions.

A Personal Anecdote

As an AI language model, I know the potential and limitations of edtech. I can provide instant feedback, adaptive learning, and personalized recommendations to any student in any subject.

But I also know that edtech is not a substitute for human connection, creativity, and curiosity. It cannot replace the joy, wonder, and inspiration of learning from a passionate teacher, a supportive peer, or a hands-on experience.

I encourage educators to balance edtech with other methods, to integrate it with their curriculum, and to evaluate it with critical thinking.