First Physical Reveal of AI Digital Textbook... Developers Focus on Customized Learning Development

Ministry of Education and Lead Developers Demonstrate English Subject
Showcase Comparison of Teacher and Student Screens
Concerns Raised Over 'Class Burden, Low Usage Rates'

The Ministry of Education and the publishers selected for the 'AI (Artificial Intelligence) Digital Textbook,' scheduled to be introduced in schools next year, showcased the physical textbooks for the first time. Concerns were raised on-site about increased workload for teachers and low usage rates.

On the 2nd, the Ministry of Education and two publishers selected for the AI digital textbook conducted a live demonstration of the English textbook at the Ministry of Education briefing room in the Government Complex Sejong for the press corps. The participating publishers demonstrated the use of two screens simultaneously: one for students and one for teachers, showing how the digital textbook can be utilized in class.

The English digital textbook includes features such as a recording function for pronunciation practice and an 'AI chatbot' to test writing responses. Publisher A, which produces English textbooks for 3rd and 4th-grade elementary students, explained, "Teachers can monitor students' writing activities in real-time through the digital textbook. Our AI digital textbook integrates a recording function to enable self-directed learning for students who are afraid of English presentations or want to practice multiple times."

On the 2nd, the Ministry of Education and two selected AI digital textbook publishers conducted a live demonstration of the English textbook for the press corps at the Ministry of Education briefing room in the Government Sejong Complex. Photo by the Ministry of Education.

On the teacher's screen, individual students' grades and achievement status could be reviewed. The student screen displayed personalized skill assessments through diagnostic evaluations, and all this data was aggregated and shown on the teacher's screen. Publisher A stated, "Even if students receive the same score of 60, their strengths and weaknesses differ, so we prescribe different learning flows focusing on personalized individual learning," adding, "We adjust the difficulty of questions according to the weak areas."

Publisher B, which produces English textbooks for middle school students in grades 1 to 3, introduced a feature that displays individual students' submitted opinions on the screen during class to facilitate communication with students. Additionally, through AI-generated personalized learning assessments, different activities and evaluations can be applied to each student. Publisher B explained, "We check how well the students understand and perform what they learned today and provide customized homework accordingly."

On the 2nd, the Ministry of Education and two selected AI digital textbook publishers conducted a live demonstration of the English textbook for the press corps at the Ministry of Education briefing room in the Government Sejong Complex. Photo by the Ministry of Education.

During the Q&A session following the demonstration, various questions about the use of AI digital textbooks were raised. When asked how to handle differences between printed textbooks and digital textbooks, a Ministry of Education official said, "Digital textbooks will be provided with manuals identical to printed textbooks," and added, "We asked to confirm what content and technology are applied in the digital textbooks and to select accordingly after school analysis." A representative from Publisher A also said, "The digital textbook is designed as a standalone product but can be used alongside printed textbooks," adding, "Schools can apply it in various teaching models."

Regarding concerns about fairness when applying different internal exam standards between the two types of textbooks, the official responded, "Digital textbook assessments are evaluation sheets to understand student levels and differ from internal exams," and "Assessments will be conducted as per the existing (printed textbook) evaluation."

When asked whether headsets or earphones would be provided when using digital textbooks, the official said, "In 1,046 pilot schools, headsets and earphones were provided during English classes, but after one or two months, they were hardly used," adding, "Nevertheless, for students who need them, schools will have the autonomy to use and purchase them, and budgets will be supported."

However, concerns remain that teachers' workload might increase. In response, a Ministry of Education official said, "The amount of preparation varies greatly among teachers who use printed textbooks," and "It is difficult to uniformly state how much workload will decrease by using digital textbooks."

When asked about low usage rates by teachers, the official emphasized, "Which type (printed or digital) teachers will use more depends on the school subject," and added, "They will use them efficiently."

Regarding concerns that current discussion and group activity classes might be disrupted, a representative from Publisher B explained, "Teachers can divide students into groups by viewing achievement levels on the dashboard," and added, "In actual observed classes, there were scenes where the process of students' activities was monitored in real-time to support more active group discussions."

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