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Ronda Zelezny-Green on how Nepal’s teachers are using AI ‘almost blindly’

From Kathmandu Post · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • Teachers in Nepal are increasingly using generative AI tools like ChatGPT, with younger educators adopting the technology more readily than older ones.
  • A significant obstacle to effective AI integration is the lack of adequate training, leading teachers to use the tools without full understanding or awareness of ethical risks.
  • Addressing the AI training gap is crucial for Nepal's education system, requiring tailored programs that consider local needs and ethical implications, including data protection and language barriers.

Artificial intelligence is rapidly entering Nepalese classrooms, prompting educators and the system to adapt. Teachers and students are already utilizing generative AI tools such as ChatGPT, according to Ronda Zelezny-Green, an international consultant and research lead for the British Council Nepal’s AI4ED project. The focus has shifted from whether AI should be used to how it can enhance learning without introducing new problems.

The teachers are ready and open to using generative AI. So now it’s about figuring out how to use it to advance education and learning.

— Ronda Zelezny-GreenOn the current state of AI adoption in Nepalese classrooms.

Zelezny-Green stated that teachers are eager to use generative AI, emphasizing the need to determine how it can advance education. An initial study of 800 teachers revealed that AI adoption varied significantly by age, with 94 percent of those 30 or younger being fast adopters, compared to 54 percent of those 50 or older. Interestingly, teachers identified training, not infrastructure, as the primary obstacle. "They don’t know where to get training, and the government isn’t providing it," Zelezny-Green noted. "So they are using AI, but almost blindly."

They don’t know where to get training, and the government isn’t providing it. So they are using AI, but almost blindly.

— Ronda Zelezny-GreenIdentifying the main obstacle to effective AI use among teachers.

This knowledge gap is critical as AI tools become more prevalent. Understanding how to operate an AI chatbot differs from knowing how to use it responsibly and effectively. Zelezny-Green highlighted that this challenge is global, with insufficient teacher training being a common issue. For Nepal, training programs must be designed specifically for the country's education system, not merely imported. Teachers need instruction on prompting AI, assessing its outputs, safeguarding sensitive information, and recognizing ethical risks.

There simply isn’t enough teacher training.

— Ronda Zelezny-GreenOn the global challenge of AI integration in education.

Data protection is a key concern, as teachers may not realize that information entered into AI systems can be used for training. Zelezny-Green advocates for a shared ecosystem of responsibility among all AI users, including schools, students, and parents. Nepal also faces language barriers, as many AI systems perform better in English than in Nepali, potentially leading to inaccurate translations.

It needs to be an ecosystem of responsibility shared among everyone who uses AI.

— Ronda Zelezny-GreenOn the need for shared responsibility in AI adoption.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Kathmandu Post. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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