AI in Classrooms: Educators Urge Human Guidance, Focus on Critical Thinking

Artificial intelligence is already a "new tool" in education, but it is humans who must lead the learning direction, according to educators and experts who gathered at the 5th Hankyoreh People and Digital Forum in Seoul. The forum, held at the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry, focused on the theme "The Transitional Field_Classroom: What Should We Teach Children?"

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AI can create answers, but ultimately, it is humans who decide what questions to ask.

Panelists, including Lee Su-jeong, an English teacher at Sungshin Women's High School, and Park Young-min, a full-time instructor at the Korea Science Academy of KAIST, shared their experiences integrating AI into their teaching. They stressed that while AI can generate answers, the crucial task of formulating questions and guiding the learning process remains with humans.

Lee Su-jeong described her approach in English classes, where students are allowed to use AI for refining their writing after they have drafted the initial sentences themselves. This method divides the tasks between AI and humans, creating new learning opportunities through human interaction. Park Young-min advocated for using AI as a "collaboration" tool to maintain agency in one's life, rather than simply crafting elaborate prompts. He drew a parallel to ancient philosophers who saw wonder as the beginning of study, suggesting that interactive learning with AI, akin to playing cat's cradle with friends, can lead to more profound understanding and "aha!" moments.

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Instead of facing the AI tsunami alone, we need colleagues, institutions, villages, and teachers to come together to draw a map of our perceptions.

Park Sook-ja, a professor at Sogang University's Institute for Holistic Education, discussed the potential for AI to foster networked learning. She noted that when students collaborate on prompts in groups, they gain a different experience than when inputting commands individually. This process encourages them to refine language and consider how to use AI effectively. "Instead of facing the AI tsunami alone, we need colleagues, institutions, villages, and teachers to come together to draw a map of our perceptions," she urged.

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A flexible mindset and the courage to move forward without fear.

When asked about the most crucial skill for children in the age of AI, the panelists offered diverse responses. Lee Su-jeong emphasized "a flexible mindset and the courage to move forward without fear." Park Young-min advised humility for rapid adaptation. Education critic Lee Beom stressed the growing importance of "experiencing achievement through hands-on collaboration." Park Sook-ja highlighted "self-recovery" as a core AI literacy competency, citing a student's observation that societal information often follows a "dopamine-bursting conclusion" structure, contrasting with traditional narrative arcs. GIST professor Kim Hee-sam encouraged young people to develop the "power to fight together" through communication and collaboration.

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Humility is necessary to adapt quickly to change.