Artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly penetrating all areas of life. Schools are not spared either. How does politics deal with this, how are children and young people prepared for the future? The “Krone” looked around.
The Ministry of Education has had a mega flop with the school platform “Portal Digitale Schule”. Digitization in schools has continued to provide a huge boost during the Corona pandemic. The schools from 2019 are no longer comparable to the schools from 2023.
Austria lagged behind pioneer countries such as Estonia for a long time. But a lot has changed in recent years. Almost all federal schools are now connected to the fiber optic network and from group 5 onwards every child receives a tablet or laptop and the new mandatory subject ‘digital primary education’ has been introduced, Minister of Education Martin Polaschek (ÖVP) explains in an interview with the “Krone ”.
In addition, 100 schools will become AI pilot schools over the next two school years. You will receive your own project budget of 250,000 euros. This means that additional learning software can be purchased and – supported by universities – tested and evaluated. Registration is required to participate
In addition, teaching materials for all schools will also be better equipped with AI examples – from the Eduthek, a freely accessible content pool of the ministry, to the digi.case, a digital learning suitcase for primary schools, to, for example, the classic textbooks Digital Primary Education. The topic of AI should also be more closely integrated into teacher training.
The use of AI is still prohibited if it is intended to simulate performance, Polaschek emphasizes. In this case they would still not be assessed. Teachers should talk openly about forms of abuse and make students aware of the subject. What is allowed is further determined by the teachers – such as calculators, collections of formulas, etc. For homework or final work, such as the pre-scientific work or the diploma thesis, AI tools may only be used to support them and must be clearly identified. “The ultimate responsibility lies with the students.”
The latest PISA study also looked at the impact of technology on school performance and found that moderate use of digital devices can have a positive impact on student performance, but it is important to use technology to enhance learning support and prevent distraction.
On average across the OECD, students who use their digital devices for no more than an hour a day to pass the time scored 49 points higher in math than those who do so for five to seven hours a day. 45 percent of students report feeling nervous or anxious when they don’t have their digital devices handy, and 65 percent say digital devices distract them in some math classes.
Source: Krone
I am Ida Scott, a journalist and content author with a passion for uncovering the truth. I have been writing professionally for Today Times Live since 2020 and specialize in political news. My career began when I was just 17; I had already developed a knack for research and an eye for detail which made me stand out from my peers.
