The AI Gold Rush

Author

Merissa Sadler-Holder
June 12, 2024

AI in Education: The Gold Rush

There's gold in them thar hills!

But not all that glitters is gold…

I have been seeing many people say that AI in education landscape being compared to the Wild West.
 
But having grown up in the heart of Northern California, ‘49er country, I’m seeing another analogy coming to light.

The AI boom we're witnessing today looks a lot like the Gold Rush. During the Gold Rush, thousands flocked to the west, driven by dreams of striking it rich with gold.

Today’s educators and Edtech companies are racing toward the promise of AI, hoping to unearth groundbreaking tools that will transform education.

Just as the Gold Rush had its share of prospectors sifting through rivers, hoping for a glimpse of gold, educators today are navigating a flood of AI tools, each promising to revolutionize the classroom.

However, amidst the genuine innovations, there's a lot of "fool's gold" – tools that glitter with potential but fail to deliver meaningful impact.

In the Gold Rush, many were lured by the shimmer of pyrite, a mineral that looked like gold but held no value.

Some AI tools offer sparkly features that seem promising but lack the depth and effectiveness needed for real educational change. These tools captivate attention initially but fail to deliver a meaningful impact.

This is because we are looking for gold in the wrong place.

The real gold isn't just in the tools themselves. It's within our own staff and teachers.

The dedicated educators who bring these tools to life, who adapt and innovate, are the true treasures in our quest to improve education.

By investing in our teachers and supporting their growth alongside these technologies, we unlock the full potential of AI in education for our students.

In the same way savvy prospectors learned to distinguish real gold from fool's gold, we must critically evaluate AI tools together, ensuring that the true value lies in empowering our educators and encouraging genuine innovation.

Here are some bullet points tips and tricks to help us keep our focus during this AI Gold Rush:

  • Critical Evaluation: Let’s sift through the AI tools critically, much like savvy prospectors, ensuring we distinguish genuine innovations from the flashy yet ineffective ones.

  • Invest in Educators: The real treasure is in our teachers. Investing in their development is key to harnessing AI’s potential in education.

  • Empower Teachers: Empower educators to adapt and innovate with AI, as they are the true changemakers in our classrooms.

  • Make Time for Conversations: Create dedicated spaces for meaningful discussions about AI’s impact, ensuring teachers’ voices are heard.

Need meaningful AI professional development through the Teaching with Machines Learning Journeys for your staff and teachers?

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