The impact of AI-teachers on the human teachers who use them in schools

2021 Fiscal Year Research-status Report

• Project/Area Number: 20K13900
• Research Institution: Ochanomizu University
• Principal Investigator: ヤマモト.ラヴェナー ロクサナ お茶の水女子大学, リーディング大学院推進センター, 特任講師 (60794675)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: AI in education / AI for teachers

Outline of Annual Research Achievements

An AI application was developed collaboratively as aid for teachers in their efforts to detect students' affective changes during online or offline classes. The application takes as input video recordings of classes and the teacher obtains attendance records and the deviations from each student’s default state at a certain moment and over time. Tests proved average effectiveness, but no conceptual reason why the technology cannot achieve the goal.

Current Status of Research Progress

2: Research has progressed on the whole more than it was originally planned.

Reason

With an ethical review in place, around 80 international schools in Japan were invited to test MoodAI, free of charge, none of which expressed willingness to try it. This indicates either that teachers’ needs are not met by MoodAI, or that they are unknown or not considered by school decision-makers. In order to better understand teacher needs and how AI can be put to better use, a 90 questions interview was prepared. Two experienced teachers responded already and investigator is looking for more teacher respondents.

Strategy for Future Research Activity

The research, being centred on the idea that the future of AI in education depends largely on its adoption by teachers, is directing its focus primarily towards understanding very well what it means to be a teacher working in public Japanese schools. Once teacher needs are identified, AI solutions and impact can be tracked.

Causes of Carryover

The success of the research depends on the number and quality of respondents, both for AI application trials and the 90-questions questionnaire. Collaborators are needed in order to ensure that the questions are thoroughly answered and analysed. Users of the AI prototype may require technical assistance, and there may be further costs related to the improvement of the software.