The A.I. effect in education
- As artificial intelligence grows in significance, Microsoft has launched several projects offering educators free resources and training in using AI for educational purposes
- The big concern with both students and workers is access for all, regardless of background, to AI tools and the transformative opportunities they offer
Like it or not, artificial intelligence (AI) will be a major aspect of education at all levels in future, according to leading educators and tech experts. Larry Nelson, regional general manager of education for Microsoft Asia, believes there may be no area where the possibilities and implications of AI are more exciting than education.
When it comes to students, he’s excited by the promise of personalised learning – leveraging AI to adapt teaching methods and materials to the needs of each individual. As for teachers, there’s the automation of tasks like grading standardised assessments, freeing educators up to spend more time with their students. And these improvements are just the tip of the iceberg.
“Humans are hard-wired to dream, to create, to innovate,” Nelson said. “We need to avoid being consumed by the drudgery of work – spending too much time on tasks that zap our creativity and energy. To reconnect to the soul of our work, we don’t just need a better way of doing the same things. We need a whole new way to work – and generative AI assistants promise to help lift the burden.”
Nelson, who grew up in a family of educators, joined Microsoft in 2009 after working with various tech and education companies – as well as spending a decade running a family business with his mother. Now, he’s responsible for Microsoft’s education business unit for primary, secondary and tertiary institutions across Asia, including in India, South Korea, Japan, Australia, mainland China and Hong Kong.
With the emergence of large language model tools including Microsoft’s flagship AI product Copilot, as well as OpenAI’s ChatGPT and Google’s Gemini, AI has unsurprisingly become a major focus for Nelson and his team.
“Widening social disparities and technology skills gaps are becoming a key barrier for AI adoption in Asia
“At Microsoft Education, we’re focused on three critical areas: empowering our customers and partners to bring their visions to life, enhancing the value we can provide through Microsoft products, and deeply partnering with the education community to responsibly solve some of the most pressing challenges in education using the power of AI,” Nelson said.
To that end, the company has launched several projects, including the Microsoft Learn Educator Center, an AI hub offering educators free resources and training in using AI for educational purposes; the Microsoft Learn for Educators Program, which takes the best of Microsoft Learn online learning paths and helps educators to easily integrate AI skills, technical skills, verifiable credentials, and industry-recognised certifications into their classes; and the Microsoft Showcase School Program to further deepen and expand education and create a global community of pioneering schools.
