Professor of Learner Centred Design, UCL Knowledge Lab, University College London, the UK
Rosemary (Rose) Luckin is a UCL Professor renowned for her research into the design and evaluation of educational technology, in particular Artificial Intelligence (AI). She was named as one of the 20 most influential people in education in the Seldon List, 2017, and is frequently asked to provide expert evidence to policy makers, in both Houses of the UK Parliament and the European Commission.
Rose has published prolifically in academic journals, books and conferences proceedings. Her 2018 book Machine Learning and Human Intelligence: The Future of Education for the 21st Century is available in English and Mandarin. In this book, Rose describes how AI can be used effectively to support teaching and learning. Her most recent book AI for Schoolteachers is a collaboration with award-winning head teacher Karine George.
Rose is also Founder of Educate Ventures Research Ltd., a London hub for educational technology start-ups, researchers and educators involved in evidence-based educational technology and leveraging data and AI for educational benefit.
Rose has taught in the secondary, further education and university sectors and is president of the Self-Managed Learning College in Brighton. She has also spent time in University Management as a Director of Undergraduate Studies and Pro Vice Chancellor.
Artificial intelligence (AI) offers many potential benefits for education, yet also raises critical challenges that educators must thoughtfully address.
In this talk, I will provide an overview of current uses of AI in education and discuss key ways AI may continue to transform teaching and learning. I will underscore important differences between artificial and human intelligence. While AI excels at certain cognitive tasks, human intelligence involves creativity, empathy, and higher-order thinking skills that remain difficult for machines to replicate. As such, I will argue that we must be judicious in determining how best to utilize AI in education so that we avoid over-automation and continue fostering the unique capabilities of human intellect.
The talk will highlight some of the main benefits of using AI in education, such as personalized and adaptive learning, automated administrative tasks, and virtual tutoring support. However, I will also examine critical challenges related to issues of bias, privacy, and job displacement as reliance on AI systems increases. Looking at educational contexts, I will provide examples of how some schools are experimenting with AI technologies to support diverse student populations. However, implementing AI in culturally responsive ways remains an ongoing challenge. Throughout the presentation, I will emphasize the essential role of educators in shaping the ethical and responsible development of AI for learning. By collaborating with computer scientists and engineers, teachers can help maximize the benefits of AI while minimizing risks and thoughtfully determining when AI should automate cognitive processes versus when it is vital to nurture students' higher-order thinking and humanity. This balanced perspective underscores AI’s promising potential while calling attention to pitfalls requiring careful consideration.