Artificial intelligence in schools of Ukraine - how to prepare for the new digital reality
Kyiv • UNN
Participants of the press briefing emphasized that ignoring AI in education is unpromising. The educational process requires transformation through updating the rules of academic integrity, data protection, and inclusiveness.
The rapid development of neural networks is forcing the Ukrainian education system to urgently adapt to new realities. Artificial intelligence has already become an everyday tool for schoolchildren, but most educational institutions still lack a unified strategy for working with it. How schools should respond to these challenges and what rules are needed today - experts discussed during the press briefing "Artificial Intelligence in Schools: Is the Educational Process Ready for the New Digital Reality?". UNN will tell you about the main points.
Details
Ignoring or totally banning AI in schools is a dead end. The educational process requires immediate transformation in three key areas
AI is a personal teacher, not a cheat sheet
Today, artificial intelligence is seen as a powerful catalyst for change. Instead of fearing cheating, experts suggest turning AI into a full-fledged learning partner.
For students, the technology should become a tool for deepening knowledge. AI can adapt to a child's pace, explain complex concepts in simple terms, and stimulate creativity.
For teachers, neural networks can take over routine tasks: generating tests, checking basic assignments, preparing lesson plans. This will free up time for live communication and mentoring.
For students, AI should become a tool for deepening knowledge. It can adapt to a child's pace, explain complex concepts in simple terms, and stimulate creativity. Our common task is to teach schoolchildren to use technology to expand cognitive boundaries, not to mindlessly copy answers
For his part, Oleh Denys, co-founder of the IT company SoftServe, emphasized the importance of synergy between the technology sector and education.
Business is ready to help education. We see how neural networks can take over teachers' routine tasks - generating tests, checking basic assignments, or preparing lesson plans. This will free up the teacher's time for live communication and genuine mentoring
The main task of the synergy between the IT sector and education is to teach schoolchildren to use AI to generate ideas and expand cognitive boundaries, not to mindlessly copy answers.
Transformation of schools: what needs to be changed right now
Standard tests for reproducing memorized facts are losing their meaning because AI solves them in seconds. We need to change the assessment format. The focus should shift to the thinking process, project work, debates, and the child's ability to creatively solve problems. The teacher, in turn, transforms from the sole source of knowledge into a facilitator
Tetiana Zakharchenko, director of the Center for Data, AI and Society at UCU, reminded about the importance of critical perception of information.
Students must understand the limitations of AI: algorithms can be biased and produce false information, so-called 'hallucinations'. Fact-checking skills, ethical interaction with data, and proper query formulation are becoming basic for everyone today
New rules of the game
Implementing technologies of this scale requires clear regulatory frameworks. Schools need updated rules of academic integrity and strict security protocols regarding the protection of children's personal data.
Academic integrity
Schools need updated rules that clearly distinguish the use of AI as an auxiliary tool for research from outright plagiarism.
Data protection
The use of educational AI platforms involves the collection of large amounts of personal information. Educational institutions must implement strict student data security protocols.
Inclusivity
New rules must prevent digital inequality, ensuring that access to the latest technologies does not become a privilege of individual schools, but is equal for all participants in the educational process.
The integration of AI must be as inclusive as possible. It is critically important that new rules and access to the latest technologies do not create an additional gap between schools with different levels of resources. We must develop transparent ethical standards at the state level that will guarantee equal opportunities and safety for every participant in the educational process
The Ukrainian education system is on the verge of large-scale digital changes. Artificial intelligence is an irreversible reality. For this transformation to be safe and effective, a consolidation of efforts from the state, technology business, and educators is needed. Only by developing transparent ethical rules and daring to experiment can the school prepare children for life in a world where collaboration with AI is a key skill for success.