Series: Artificial Intelligence Leadership and the Future of Further Education

With:

Richard Foster-Fletcher, Executive Chair MKAI.org
Kurt Hintz, Executive Principal, Capital City College Group

Episode 2: The Classroom of Tomorrow: A look into how Artificial Intelligence could influence our future learning environments in Further Education.

Episode Notes:

Kurt and Richard open the episode by discussing various elements currently affecting Further Education, including emerging technologies like Chat GPT and Neuralink, the implications of AI in classrooms, and pressing concerns about inequalities within educational systems. The conversation also touches upon the financial aspects and potential disruptions to established educational hierarchies.

Richard queries Kurt about the availability of college-wide WiFi, focusing on the accessibility for students without data. Kurt confirms the presence of free WiFi across the campus, designed to facilitate learning while also offering some degree of protection when accessing social media. The discussion then shifts towards the role of AI in education, specifically as a tool for delivering education and imparting industry-standard skills. Richard posits the idea of a future classroom devoid of physical devices, relying instead on projected information. Kurt underlines the critical role of seamless interconnectivity between individuals and information sources.

Kurt shares his concerns about the responsible application of AI in educational assessments. He argues for the need for tools that can both alleviate the workload on teachers and offer rapid, quality feedback essential for personalised learning. Kurt underscores the importance of addressing existing inequalities in the educational system to achieve true equity for all learners. He also notes the increasing number of companies approaching him with AI solutions, particularly for assessment and planning, while cautioning that companies falling behind in AI advancements risk obsolescence.

Further, Kurt speaks about the symbiotic relationship between Further Education institutions and businesses, stressing the importance of foundational technical training that can evolve into more advanced skill sets. Richard adds to this by discussing AI's role in administrative streamlining, such as in the automation of fee assessments. Both delve into the necessity of optimising learning spaces, examining variables such as lighting and temperature and even the synchronisation of class schedules with peak cognitive times for individuals.

Closing the episode, Kurt and Richard discuss the complexities introduced by remote work. They explore its effect on both individual learning experiences and organisational structures. The duo also ponder how AI can play a role in shaping optimal learning environments, from monitoring student engagement to fostering collaborative learning settings. This rich conversation illustrates the nuanced considerations involved in integrating AI into Further Education while striving to meet each learner's unique needs.