AI Assistant Teachers Featured in Each Pledge... High Acceptance but Numerous Challenges Remain

Basic Academic Skills Guarantee AI Education Service Shows Minimal Utilization
AI Utilization Education Pledge Draws Attention in Superintendent Election
Positive Teacher Perception of AI-Based Learning Platform Use
Limitations in Problem-Solving Focus and Developer-Centered Approach

On the 13th, children visiting the '2020 Elementary Education Expo Edutech Show' held at COEX in Gangnam-gu, Seoul, are experiencing an AI English learning program. This expo features over 150 educational companies, institutions, and organizations showcasing educational products that incorporate the latest technologies and content. Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@

One of the pledges mentioned across all camps in the June 1 superintendent elections was the expansion of 'AI (Artificial Intelligence) assistant teachers.' As it is considered a solution for basic academic skills deficiencies, superintendents starting their new terms are expected to strengthen AI-based education.

Currently, AI education services aimed at guaranteeing basic academic skills are only being used in a limited way, such as pilot services or depending on the school level, but personalized education using AI is expected to gradually expand. Among Seoul Superintendent Cho Hee-yeon's pledges are the implementation of an elementary basic academic skills guarantee system, the use of AI textbooks in high schools, and the expansion of AI-based subject classes. Provinces like Gyeonggi-do and Gyeongsangbuk-do have also pledged to conduct academic diagnostic evaluations using AI.

At present, the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education is utilizing AI tutor services in 12 schools. These schools use AI tutor services in subjects such as Korean language, mathematics, English, Korean (for multicultural and North Korean defector students), and information technology, targeting students with basic academic skill deficiencies. Additionally, some grades or schools are using the Ministry of Education's 'Smart Math Explorers' (for 1st and 2nd graders) and 'AI PengTalk' (in about 300 elementary schools).

The Ministry of Education also plans to add and expand AI subjects in the 2022 revised curriculum, establish teaching, learning, and assessment systems suitable for digital and AI educational environments, and further strengthen individualized learner guidance and assessment.

According to the 'Teachers' Perceptions of AI Utilization in School Education' published by the Korean Society for Educational Technology, a survey of 597 elementary, middle, and high school teachers found that 81.4% expressed willingness to use AI-based teaching and learning platforms if introduced. The areas where teachers felt the most need were administration and individualized learning. The biggest concerns were the loss of schools' socialization functions, lack of interaction, and the production of passive teachers overly dependent on AI.

AI-based education still tends to focus on problem-solving rather than personalization, and the fact that AI edutech is driven by developers rather than teachers is seen as a limitation. The Seoul Education Information Research Institute pointed out in its report 'Implementation Research for AI-based Edutech Application in Schools' that developing school-business collaboration models involving teachers, providing teacher capacity-building education, and developing AI edutech that supports team-based personalized classes are necessary.

The Seoul Education Information Research Institute analyzed, "We need to move away from the approach of fitting lessons to tools made by companies and instead empower teachers with the authority to control their classes," adding, "The OECD also emphasized that education experts should be at the core of design, development, and implementation."

It continued, "We must build a sustainable system so that teachers can properly utilize learning analytics data," and explained, "To create AI technology centered on users such as teachers and to understand the impact of AI-based education, capacity building for policy developers must also accompany these efforts."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.