AI technology will allow students to learn at their own pace, and real-time feedback from the AI will help students to concentrate and participate throughout the course. (image: Korea Bizwire)
SEOUL, Apr. 15 (Korea Bizwire) — South Korean education institutions are scrambling to incorporate artificial intelligence (AI) technology in classrooms across the country.
The Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education (SMOE) announced that it is developing a curriculum for a new course on AI technology, which will soon be provided as an optional course for high school students.
The curriculum is expected to be completed by February of next year and distributed to schools by the second semester.
Education authorities, currently at the stage of designing curriculum contents, have organized a committee that includes external experts, and they have also been consulting with Microsoft Inc. and other IT corporations for curriculum design.
The new textbook will include not only a general introduction to AI, but also real activities that will involve building basic AI programs.
The SMOE is also developing English courses that incorporate AI technology.
Using smartphones and other platforms, students will be able to engage in English conversations with an AI avatar. The new courses will be made available by the second half of this year.
AI technology will allow students to learn at their own pace, and real-time feedback from the AI will help students to concentrate and participate throughout the course.
For instance, if a student hesitates in answering a question, the AI will recognize the situation, and ask the student again or provide examples to help the student move on.
Other education offices are also seeking to incorporate AI technology.
The Daegu Metropolitan Office of Education plans to develop an education assistance program that aims to reduce educational gaps among students by using AI technology to analyze study patterns and achievement levels of each student and create appropriate educational content to educate them.
The Busan Metropolitan City Office Of Education signed a memorandum of understanding with Intel Korea Ltd. and Tongmyong University last February to open up the Center for Future Education, where students will be able to directly experience AI technology that will be used in future societies.
The Ministry of Education signed an agreement with IBM Korea Inc. last year to establish the New Collar School, a P-Tech school specializing in AI software development.
Students there will participate in a five-year program at Semyeong Computer High School and Gyeonggi College of Science and Technology to nurtured into AI experts.
H. M. Kang (hmkang@koreabizwire.com)
