£27K For Teacherless Education: Is AI the New Classroom Reality?

AI has certainly reshaped our thinking about traditional teaching methods, but a truly significant milestone in the history of EdTech has been achieved: the teacherless classroom has arrived.

Could this innovation challenge long-held assumptions about the necessity of in-person teaching? It definitely raises important questions about the balance between technology and human involvement.

In this article, we explore the pros and cons of the teacherless classroom and how it has sparked debate about the role of human interaction in fostering critical thinking, emotional support, and student engagement.

Table of Contents Table of Contents

1. Key Takeaways
2. David Game College's Teacherless Classroom
3. Experts Have Doubts
4. An Increase in Student Autonomy
5. The Need for Human Interaction in AI Learning
6. Global Adoption of AI-Powered Classrooms
7. South Korea's AI Textbook Initiative
8. The Bottom Line
9. FAQs
10. References

Show Full Guide

Table of Contents

1. Key Takeaways
2. David Game College's Teacherless Classroom
3. Experts Have Doubts
Show Full Guide
4. An Increase in Student Autonomy
5. The Need for Human Interaction in AI Learning
6. Global Adoption of AI-Powered Classrooms
7. South Korea's AI Textbook Initiative
8. The Bottom Line
9. FAQs
10. References

David Game College’s Teacherless Classroom

Back in 2012, the renowned futurist Thomas Frey said: “The new frontier of a teacherless education system is at our doorstep, and all we are lacking is that yet-to-be-named visionary who will take the reigns.”

Well, Mr Frey, the concept has now become a reality. David Game College, an independent school in London, launched the UK’s first teacherless classroom at the beginning of the 2024 academic year.

The AI-powered ‘Sabrewing’ program will deliver learning to 20 GCSE students through a blend of AI platforms and virtual reality headsets.

The college said:

“This novel approach encapsulates the very essence of student-centred education – so much so, that students enrolled on the programme will not have teachers, nor will they need to slow down or speed up their learning in order to keep up with traditional classes.”

Personalized Learning & AI Tutors

Sabrewing offers new levels of personalization, allowing students to progress at their own pace through individualized learning pathways. To facilitate this tailored experience, the program utilizes AI that continuously assesses a student’s mastery of any given topic. Based on the data collected, Sabrewing prioritizes areas the student has yet to master and, functioning as a virtual tutor, will offer additional resources, answer questions, and explain concepts.

In keeping with the old Latin oxymoron Festina lente (make haste slowly), the college is confident that adopting AI-based adaptive learning will allow students to progress at their own pace while accelerating their learning.

If you’re unsettled by the prospect of AI having unprecedented responsibility for delivering a child’s education, fear not. Humans will still be present. Each student will receive support from learning coaches, who provide mentoring to help them develop as independent learners.

How Much Does Sabrewing Cost?

This AI-enabled adaptive learning program will cost £27,000 for the academic year.

Students are expected to complete at least five GCSE subjects within a year, preparing for exams in Summer 2025.

Experts Have Doubts

While most EdTechs and educational professionals acknowledge the benefits of adaptive learning in AI, there is a general reluctance to support teacherless classrooms. After Sky News released its initial report, several professionals voiced their concerns about Sabrewing.

Marc Watkins, the Assistant Director of Academic Innovation at the University of Mississippi, tweeted:

Teacherless classrooms sound like a cost cutting nightmare https://t.co/Oqke5678ZP

— Marc Watkins (marcwatkins.bsky.social) (@Marc__Watkins) August 31, 2024

In a similar vein, the editor of the Learning, Media and Technology Journal, Ben Williamson, called UK classrooms ‘a laboratory for AI reforms’:

We went from politicians promoting AI to cut teacher workload to "teacherless classrooms" in the UK in just a few days. UK classrooms are becoming a laboratory for AI reforms. https://t.co/ePgsjdFTAd

— Ben Williamson (@BenPatrickWill) August 31, 2024

And although the editor and co-founder of EdTech Innovation Hub, Emma Cate Stokes, seemed less politically motivated, her comments were still pretty pessimistic.

In reference to Sabrewing, she said:

A school in London is launching the first #AI-driven 'teacherless' classroom. What do people think? I am a bit dubious if I am being honest, and will be watching with interest to see how it unfolds ⬇️https://t.co/nRSaYM59Y0#AINews #EdTech #edutwitter

— Emma Cate Stokes (@emmccatt) August 12, 2024

An Increase in Student Autonomy

Keith Houghton, who is part of Norfolk’s educational psychology team, told Techopedia that although he would not recommend fully teacherless classrooms, he sees some positive sides:

“A system like Sabrewing could promote greater autonomy, particularly for secondary students, where autonomy is often limited by behaviorist approaches that many schools now adopt. By fostering independence, it could encourage students to take more ownership of their learning.”

While the benefits of AI integration for neurodiverse populations have been widely accepted, Houghton suggested that an approach to education that relies on independence and self-determination might not work for those with ADHD or other attention difficulties because such individuals depend on human guidance to remain engaged.

Houghton also indicated that children who have experienced trauma might struggle to focus and feel secure in environments that lack the presence of trusted adults.

The Need for Human Interaction in AI Learning

Of course, students with additional needs are not the only ones who benefit from human interaction in educational settings. Several studies highlight the importance of collaboration between teachers and AI in achieving optimal learning outcomes across the spectrum of students.

One study suggests that AI personalized learning works best when combined with human teachers who bring emotional intelligence, creativity, and social interaction to the learning process.

Similarly, another study emphasizes the crucial role that teachers play in facilitating more nuanced, human-centric aspects of education, like emotional support, motivation, and critical thinking.

Only time will tell whether Sabrewing’s human learning coaches will go far enough to address these issues.

Global Adoption of AI-Powered Classrooms

While David Game College is a trailblazer in the UK, India is also preparing to launch its first AI-powered teacherless classroom, which is set to open at the World Trade Center in Bangalore this November.

The initiative, led by Bookspotz, is part of a broader push to integrate AI into education for more efficient learning experiences. Like Sabrewing, AI-driven platforms will facilitate a personal, interactive, and self-paced environment conducive to students learning independently.

South Korea’s AI Textbook Initiative

South Korea’s plan to introduce AI-powered tablets in classrooms by 2025 has also received considerable attention.

On June 8 2024, the Ministry of Education unveiled the AI Digital Textbook Promotion Plan at the Seoul Government Complex.

At the event, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Education Lee Ju-Ho highlighted the significance of the nationwide rollout:

“By harnessing the power of AI digital textbooks in our communication and learning, we can achieve the vision of ‘personalized education for all.'”

Like all AI-based adaptive learning, the textbooks boast customized teaching, but other notable features include multi-linguistic translations.

While innovative, the proposal has raised concerns about the all-too-common risks of AI hallucinations and privacy issues. These concerns are certainly understandable, but are they insurmountable, and should they be allowed to hinder such a historic and monumental education overhaul?

EdTech-related research suggests that while there is a need for ongoing evaluation of how this technology is being integrated into classrooms, as well as the implementation of frameworks that protect students’ personal information, employing digital textbooks is a surefire way of enhancing the learning process.

The Bottom Line

The teacherless classroom marks a bold step forward in AI-driven adaptive learning, but it seems clear, for now, that machine efficiency must be balanced with the human touch.

As programs like Sabrewing unfold, their ability to effectively deliver personalized learning pathways may depend on maintaining this balance.

One thing is certain: no one is yet convinced that human guidance is obsolete.

FAQs