Leslie Loble AM | Closing Australia’s Learning Divide

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imagine an artificial intelligence

enhanced adaptive interactive computer

software program that can identify when

and how a student is having challenges

with reading or maths now imagine that

same computer program alerting that

student's teacher and providing learning

suggestions specifically designed for

that student's

difficulties or imagine an AI based app

installed on any commercially available

tablet that can precisely detect graphia

writing difficulties in children then

immediately start to address the child's

writing challenges through engaging

lessons exercises and games providing

vital early stage support regardless of

where that child lives or long waiting

lists to see a diagnostic specialist

these tools Don't Have To Be Imagined

because they are already in use along

with many other forms of AI enabled

education technology or what we call

edtech edtech today is offering unparal

levels of personalization and enrichment

to the way the children are taught an

enormous potential to cut through the

time- wasting administrative tasks that

take teachers away from direct student

engagement its influence on future

Generations is inevitable edtech will

become part of our educational furniture

and perhaps quite soon certainly the

edtech market is growing rapidly however

my research conducted through a Paul

Ramsey Foundation fellowship at the UTS

Center for social justice and inclusion

has found that not all edtech is created

equal we must make sure that AI back

dead Tech is high quality and fit for

purpose designed based on learning

science and built with all the safety

protections that AI tools require

privacy security transparency and

absence of bias the proper use of edtech

is the responsible use of edtech and

that means safeguards for our children

in schools the greatest Safeguard we

have when using artificial intelligence

is human intelligence putting systems in

place to empower our teachers to be the

governors of

edtech the power of edtech is Amplified

when it supports not replaces teachers

research shows that edtech is most

effective when designed with teachers

and when its use is proportionate

clearly targeted and well integrated

into a teachers's learning

plan it's crucial that we prepare our

Educators to identify beneficial forms

of edtech and to shape which kinds of

edtech are adopted in

schools it's also crucial that all

students can access the power of edtech

and not only those who already have

educational advantages we cannot afford

to let a digital divide compound our

learning

divide that's why through our UTS

research

we have established the Australian

Network for Quality digital education we

can help tackle Australia's learning

divide through a clear strategic agenda

for developing high quality ethical

education technology that is accessible

affordable and well supported for

Effective implementation and impact this

network will include Australian leaders

across education industry Community

philanthropy government and research

sectors everyone who will be affected by

the emergence of edtech must have the

opportunity and voice in its development

and

use because with the right design

training and oversight edtech not only

has the power to enhance learning it

also can be the Catalyst to disrupt

education disadvantage Equity is a

critical dimension of edtech and Central

to our ambition for Quality digital

education having equal access to

Advanced learning tools that are

inclusive by Design is the next Frontier

in overcoming Australia's digital and

learning divide between advantaged and

disadvantaged

students with the support of the Paul

Ramsey foundation and the University of

Technology Sydney we are building a

network of Partners who are investing in

the Equitable future of all Australian

students join us in building an edtech

future that is well-designed well used

and well

governed