AI Disrupting Education: One More Technology in a Long History

Jason Johnston, Ph.D., Director of Online Learning & Course Production at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville

The Gutenberg press, the radio, the television, the personal computer, the world wide web, and publicly available generative AI (like ChatGPT) are six technologies that have radically disrupted, augmented, and propelled education forward. While the time between the press and the radio spanned centuries, mere decades have witnessed the growing use of audio, video, computers, the internet, and now artificial intelligence in the classroom.

I help lead the development of online courses at a large public university. While I'm not old enough to remember the first books being printed, I have studied with wonder the growing use of technology for learning, first as a student, then as a teacher, then as a technician, then as an instructional designer, and now as an administrator.

However, I am old enough to have experienced another technology that never made it into the classroom: The CB radio in our green, mid-70s sedan. CB (citizen band) radios, for those born in later generations, were typically used by truckers to communicate over long ranges like a walkie-talkie. In 1980, 's pre-cellphone era, it became popular with the general public as well. My dad enjoyed using it on trips to catch traffic reports and updates on ‘smoky bears’ waiting to catch unsuspecting speeders. I was a CB radio lurker most of the time, rarely entering into this domain of adult public chatter. When I was alone in the car, I would sometimes surf between channels and listen in on adults and their conversations.

One day, as a young lad of 11, I heard two people discussing the perils and dangers of computers in the classroom.

“Kids today, they’re not going to learn anything anymore - the computer is just going to do it for them. Over.”

“Absolutely right. Back then, we had to think for ourselves. No computer to do it for us. Over.”

And so on.

" We are transitioning into a world where AI supports more and more of our daily work, life, and education."

Something got me fired up, and so I picked up the mic, mashed the button, and blurted a single line: “I disagree - I don’t think so.”

The conversation halted. "It sounds like we have a kid on the line. I guess we better finish this another time. Over and out.”

With that, I served my first public opinion about educational technology and would be far from my last.

I’ve heard much talk lately about AI and its disruptive potential to destroy education. Many times I’ve wished I could mash down on a hand mic again and publicly say, “I disagree - I don’t think so.” In the last few months, I’ve participated in consultations, presentations, round-tables, and task forces to help raise a voice saying, “We’ve been here before. Education is resilient. Educators are adaptive. We’ll get through this disruption like we have all the others.” A colleague and I started a podcast in March attempting to bring balance to the conversation, talking candidly about the concerns, but also the possibilities, of AI and education. I've been blessed to have many collegial discussions that are not based on fear but more born from curiosity, resilience, and a desire to adapt.

With that, I still believe we are in for a wild ride over the next year and we should proceed with possibility thinking but also with caution. I’m thankful for this forum to quickly publish a few suggestions as we ride this wave of rapid change:

1. Stay flexible and stay informed. Experiment with models like ChatGPT/ be a learner and ask how AI could benefit students and improve learning. Let research, rather than the sensationalism meant to increase clicks, drive our discussions and conclusions.

2. Use this moment of disruption to question your own teaching and the typical approaches used at your institution. Develop classes that prepare students for a world that will be increasingly supported by AI.

3. Be cautious with EdTech companies monetizing AI for education. Soon, many AI-driven, 3rd party plug-ins for your LMS or standalone software will appear with claims to increase engagement, provide ‘personalized’ tutors for your students, drive enrollment, or reduce teacher workload. Ask critical questions about the technology’s efficacy, transparency, and data handling.

4. Finally, find academic communities in which to debate, discuss, and disagree over AI. Join committees, interact on LinkedIn, and attend conferences. Develop principles for using AI that keep students at the center. For example, as part of an AI task force developing a philosophy to guide the use of AI and emerging technologies at my university, we came up with eight principles that included being intentional, human-centered, inclusive, and transparent.

In conclusion, AI is disrupting educational technology and institutions. In the past few months, AI has just ‘appeared’ as a feature in standard educational tools I use like Grammarly, Canva, Google Docs, and Turnitin, not to mention everyday places like my web browser, phone, and music app. Generative AI is here to stay. We are transitioning into a world where AI supports more and more of our daily work, life, and education. As educational leaders, this new world beckons us to help guide it in the right direction.  

I’m not sure what got into me 40 years ago, jumping on the CB radio, disagreeing with people who I’m sure knew more than I did at the time. But I don’t think my posture has changed on educational technology. When I hear educators decry the end of learning as we know it, I think about disruptive technologies: books, radio, television, and the internet, and I believe education will survive AI as well. Good educators continue to learn, and our continued learning may be just what we need to help make education very human moving forward.

Educational Technology

Artificial Intelligence

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