Bridging the Gap: The Role of AI in Transforming Education

We talk to Nhon Ma, CEO of Numerade. 

As the world adapts to the rapid evolution of artificial intelligence, the education sector faces unique challenges and opportunities. Despite two years passing since the launch of ChatGPT, a staggering 58% of teachers report receiving no training in AI. This training gap not only limits their ability to integrate transformative tools into their classrooms but also fuels misconceptions and fears about AI’s role in education. Many educators worry that AI could replace teachers, but the truth is far more empowering—AI has the potential to enhance teaching and learning in ways previously unimaginable.

For teachers, one of the most significant hurdles in adopting AI tools is trust—both in terms of content accuracy and ensuring these tools do not facilitate academic dishonesty. Platforms like Numerade are addressing these issues by combining the precision of AI with the expertise of human educators, delivering accurate and pedagogically aligned content. With features like real-time learning assessments and personalized educational support, AI integration can help teachers identify and address individual students’ needs, fostering a more inclusive and impactful learning environment.

AI is also transforming teachers’ daily responsibilities by alleviating administrative burdens. Tasks like lesson planning, grading, and creating assessments can now be streamlined, allowing educators to focus on teaching and student engagement. Moreover, Numerade’s AI-powered STEM platform is setting a benchmark by using short-form video content to make complex topics accessible and engaging for students.

The future of AI in education promises to be transformative. As educators and policymakers work together to bridge the AI training gap, tools like Numerade will play a pivotal role in making personalized learning a reality for all students, regardless of their socioeconomic background. This interview explores these critical issues with insights from leading experts in the field. Here is what Nhon Ma, CEO of Numerade had to say…

1. State of AI in Education:

• Two years after the launch of ChatGPT, why do you think 58% of teachers report having no training in AI? What’s causing this gap?

This is due to the lack of education on how AI can help teachers and administrators.  Also, there is a general fear that AI would replace teachers.  This is far from the truth, as AI will make teachers and administrators much better at their craft.  Moreover, people are typically resistant to change.

2. Challenges for Teachers:

• What are the biggest challenges teachers face when trying to adopt AI tools in the classroom?

Some of the biggest challenges teachers face in adopting AI tools is knowing whether they can trust the AI.  Specifically, for accuracy purposes for generative AI content.  These LLM models still hallucinate and for STEM subjects where accuracy is critically important, we still have lots of work to do here.  One other big challenge is ensuring that the AI doesn’t allow their students to cheat.  Edtech AI platforms will need to address these challenges, something Numerade is very focused on.  

3. Impact on Innovation:

• How does this lack of AI training hold back innovation in education? Can you provide examples where better AI integration could improve outcomes?

The lack of AI training in schools is certainly holding back innovation.  More importantly, it’s holding back the potential of students.  AI integration can allow a teacher to deeply understand where all her students are in terms of their learning journey.  It can help the teacher address specific weak areas of a student, while allowing others to flourish.  

4. Benefits of AI Training for Educators:

• What are the main advantages of providing teachers with comprehensive AI training? How can it change their day-to-day responsibilities?

The more teachers know about AI, the more they can help their students and themselves.  On a daily basis, the AI can help the teachers understand in real time which students in her class understands the topic or not, help the teacher address this with content and approaches to better help the student understand.  

5. Reducing Administrative Burden:

• One key benefit of AI is reducing administrative burdens. Can you elaborate on how AI can free up teachers to focus on teaching?

AI is and will continue to help teachers free up administrative work so they can focus on more highly leveraged work like teaching.  Specifically, AI can help teachers with lesson planning, test/quiz creation, grading and more.  

6. Numerade’s Role in STEM Education:

• How does Numerade’s AI-powered platform support teachers and students in STEM education? What unique tools or features do you offer?

Numerade’s unique hybrid approach of combining both actual human educators and AI lends itself to content output that is accurate and pedagogically aligned.  It does this via a multi-modal format, specifically in a format that students love most, short-form video.  Students can leverage video-based help in any STEM subject via Numerade’s Ace, AI tutor.  

7. Addressing the Fear of AI in Classrooms:

• Many teachers may feel intimidated by AI. What strategies or resources can help them embrace this technology rather than fear it?

Slowly using this technology via the numerous chatbots out there is a great start.  So instead of googling something, try one of the AI chatbots, and see what it can do.   They should do this for anything they like, this will help lower any anxiety with the tech.

8. Equity and Accessibility:

• How can we ensure that AI tools in education are accessible and equitable for all schools, including those in underfunded areas?

This is extremely important.  We desperately need efforts to ensure all schools, regardless of their budgets, have the ability to access all these tools.  This is where Numerade is deeply committed.  For 12K schools and colleges in underfunded areas, we need specific programs in place to ensure these schools have the same tools as other schools, particularly to those tools that work.

9. AI’s Role in Personalized Learning:

• How is AI transforming personalized learning for students? What does this mean for the traditional role of a teacher?

We’re very excited about the role of the teacher.  AI will shine the light on where each student is at any given time.  It will help the teacher, help their students much better, by constructing personalized learning paths and materials for the student.  The teacher will evolve into one of more impact across a larger number of students than ever before. 

10. Future of AI in Education:

• What do you see as the future of AI in education over the next five years? How will platforms like Numerade shape this evolution?

Over the next few years, we see AI deeply ingrained into education, where every student will get the resources they need to learn and understand in their own personalized way.  Teachers will have a larger impact on students’ outcomes.  At Numerade, we’ll continue ensuring that AI is pedagogically aligned and accurate, and catered to how students learn best.  

11. Call to Action for Policymakers and Institutions:

• What can policymakers and educational institutions do to address the current AI training gap for teachers? What immediate steps should they take?

They should work with leading edtech companies who prioritize learning and understanding to help provide training for teachers.  Students are already using AI, so it’s key that teachers understand this technology as soon as possible.  Immediate steps would be to ensure budgets for these types of training and programs are available and used