Seesaw Whitepaper

Page 16

In discussing the evolution of technology and learning over the past 20 years, Sara Dewitt, senior vice president of PBS Kids Digital, noted that “technology—when used properly—holds the potential to remove barriers between kids and their learning experiences. There is an incredible opportunity presented by emerging speech technologies, based on artificial intelligence, to support early learners by empowering them and putting them in control of their own learning.”15 Just as the mouse and touch screens removed barriers between young children and learning opportunities through technology, new technologies may open up new learning experiences that further empower young learners. As controversial as some of the newer AI tools have been in the context of a school setting and with many educators concerned about the way these tools will damage learning processes, there

are an equal number of educators pointing out the opposite: There is a place for AI as a tool among other tools in the classroom. Thomsen, who is working with Sal Khan (of Khan Academies) on principles to address AI in education, similarly confirms that early work they have done with generative AI systems — such as ChatGPT — indicates that it can actually support creativity in students and teachers. According to Thomsen, “AI has the potential to support divergent thinking and problem-based learning, making difficult [teacher] prep easier. It could provide adaptive scaffolds for open-ended student exploration.” Ultimately, the question isn’t whether technology should be a part of elementary classrooms but rather how we design learning experiences and tools that make the best (and most developmentally appropriate use) of technology to support teachers and student learning.

Context is Everything • 16


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