In a bid to have a useful modern-day curriculum, the CBSE decides to include Artificial Intelligence (AI) as an optional skill subject in classes VIII, IX and X from the next academic session.

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Schools are waking up to the fact that students need to be future-ready where AI is the reality, and are making efforts to use this technology to fill the gaps in teaching and learning.

Artificial Intelligence has already come into our lives, and hence it is important to introduce older students to concepts around this. “Introducing such topics at the right age helps the students understand the impact, both good and extreme, about technology that is still in its nascent stage but being researched and tested rapidly. Same students will pick careers in AI and hence equipping them with the right information and perspective as part of their school curriculum is imperative,” says Mona Seervai, head of school – Mount Litera School International, Mumbai.

“Technology has made things easier by introducing faster channels of communication between students and teachers. In our school, we no longer have to only rely on hard paper copies for our homework or test, and in that sense, AI integrated technology is a big help. Our Grade X examinations are now e-assessments, hence it requires students and teachers to be comfortable with the use of technology,” adds Seervai. Mount Litera School recently organised a workshop with machine learning expert Jehan Shams where students were told about the complex world of AI and its ethical implications.

But then, the occasional workshop and seminar on AI may not be adequate to formally incorporate AI as part of the school learning cycle, says Mark Nelson who heads the IT department at Shiv Nadar School. “There is a need for overall information literacy at the school level where the induction of AI is not happening organically. Teachers need to be equipped with AI learning as an application tool and also as a subject.”

“Besides, schools need to invest in resources, time and infrastructure to enable students to become tech leaders of tomorrow,” adds Nelson, as his school has integrated machine learning (sub-set of artificial intelligence), robotics, deep learning, graphic designing, 3D printing as part of its technology programme and got students to develop projects to solve societal problems.[…]

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