How China Is Using Artificial Intelligence in Classrooms | WSJ

The Wall Street Journal
1 Oct 201905:43

TLDRChinese classrooms are integrating AI to monitor and enhance student engagement. Devices like headbands measure concentration levels, sending data to teachers and parents. AI-powered robots assess health and attention, while uniforms with chips track student locations. Despite concerns over privacy and the accuracy of these methods, schools report improved discipline and grades. The government's investment in AI education is part of a broader push for China to lead in AI technology, raising questions about the long-term impact on students and society.

Takeaways

  • đŸ€– China is integrating AI into classrooms to monitor and enhance student engagement and performance.
  • 📈 The country aims to become a global leader in AI, with applications ranging from cashless transactions to advanced surveillance systems.
  • 👹‍🎓 Schools are utilizing AI to track students' health and engagement levels, with robots and wearables that collect data.
  • 👕 Students wear uniforms embedded with chips that allow for real-time location tracking within the school premises.
  • 👀 Surveillance cameras are installed to monitor student behavior, such as phone usage and signs of inattention like yawning.
  • 📊 Data collected from students, including concentration levels, is sent to teachers and parents, raising concerns among Chinese netizens.
  • 🧠 Students use brain wave sensing gadgets during meditation exercises, with the data being analyzed in real-time by teachers.
  • đŸ€” The effectiveness and accuracy of these AI tools in measuring concentration levels are questionable, with experts noting potential for false readings.
  • 📈 Teachers report that the use of AI has led to increased discipline and better academic performance among students.
  • 📉 Some students feel added pressure due to the monitoring, with parents punishing low attention scores.
  • đŸ›ïž The government has invested heavily in AI education, collaborating with tech giants and startups to develop these technologies.

Q & A

  • What technology is being used in Chinese classrooms to measure students' concentration levels?

    -Chinese classrooms are using headbands that measure each student's level of concentration. These devices send the information directly to the teacher's computer and to parents.

  • How does the AI technology in Chinese classrooms track students' health and engagement?

    -Classrooms have robots that analyze students' health and engagement levels. Additionally, students wear uniforms with chips that track their locations, and surveillance cameras monitor their behavior during classes.

  • What is China's goal regarding artificial intelligence?

    -China has big plans to become a global leader in artificial intelligence, with applications ranging from a cashless economy to high-tech education.

  • How does the brain wave sensing gadget used in classrooms work?

    -The brain wave sensing gadget has three electrodes, two behind the ears and one on the forehead. These sensors pick up electrical signals sent by neurons in the brain and send the neural data in real time to the teacher's computer.

  • What concerns do experts have about the use of EEG technology in classrooms?

    -Experts like Theodore Zanto, a neural scientist, express concerns about the susceptibility of EEG to artifacts and the lack of proper setup, which can affect the signal and potentially lead to false readings.

  • What impact have the headbands had on student behavior according to teachers?

    -Teachers report that the headbands have forced students to become more disciplined, leading to better attention during class, harder studying, and higher scores.

  • How do some students feel about the AI technology used in classrooms?

    -Not all students are enthusiastic about the technology. Some, like the fifth grader mentioned, feel added pressure due to the monitoring and the potential for parental punishment based on attention scores.

  • What is the purpose of the data collected by the AI technology in classrooms?

    -The data collected can go to government-funded research projects. However, some parents are unclear about where the data ends up and do not seem to care much about it.

  • What privacy concerns are raised by the use of AI in classrooms?

    -Theodore Zanto points out that there is likely no privacy protection for the data collected in the classroom, raising concerns about individual student assessments and potential misuse of personal information.

  • How does the Chinese government support the integration of AI in education?

    -The government has poured billions of dollars into the project, bringing together tech giants, start-ups, and schools to create one of the world's largest experiments in AI education.

  • What is the long-term vision for AI in Chinese classrooms?

    -The long-term vision is to use AI tools to potentially help raise the grades of two hundred million students. However, the full implications of this technology will only be apparent when these students become adult citizens.

Outlines

00:00

đŸ€– AI in Education: Monitoring Attention in China

This paragraph discusses the use of AI technology in a Chinese primary school to monitor students' concentration levels. Teachers utilize headbands that measure brain activity and send data to their computers and parents. China is investing heavily in AI, aiming to become a global leader. The country has implemented a cashless economy and extensive surveillance systems. Schools are integrating AI in various forms, such as robots analyzing health and engagement, uniforms with tracking chips, and cameras monitoring phone use and yawning. Despite concerns from netizens, schools have obtained parental consent for these AI experiments, which are designed to improve student grades and feed algorithms. The government has invested billions in this project, involving tech giants, startups, and schools. The paragraph also describes a fifth-grade class using a brain wave sensing device for meditation, with sensors picking up brain signals and sending data to teachers in real-time. The technology, however, raises questions about its accuracy and the pressure it puts on students, as well as concerns about data privacy.

05:02

🔒 Privacy and AI in the Classroom: Concerns and Potential

The second paragraph delves into the privacy concerns and potential implications of AI in education. Theodore Zanto, a neural scientist, expresses surprise at the use of EEG technology in classrooms, as it is typically used in medical settings. He points out that EEG is prone to errors due to various factors like improper setup or movement. Despite this, teachers claim that the technology has led to increased discipline and better attention among students, resulting in higher scores. However, some students feel additional pressure due to the monitoring, with parents punishing them for low attention scores. Companies suggest that the data collected could be used for government-funded research, but there is a lack of clarity and concern among parents about where the data is ultimately used. The paragraph concludes by highlighting the broader implications of AI in education, suggesting that the long-term effects on students will only be understood when they become adults.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Artificial Intelligence

Artificial Intelligence (AI) refers to the simulation of human intelligence in machines that are programmed to think like humans and mimic their actions. In the context of the video, AI is being integrated into Chinese classrooms to enhance teaching and learning. For example, AI-powered headbands measure students' concentration levels, and robots analyze their engagement, which aligns with China's ambition to become a global leader in AI.

💡Headbands

Headbands, as mentioned in the script, are devices worn by students that measure their level of concentration. These headbands are equipped with sensors that pick up electrical signals from the brain and send this data to the teacher's computer. This technology is part of the broader AI implementation in education, aiming to monitor and improve students' attentiveness during classes.

💡Concentration

Concentration, in this video, refers to the students' ability to focus and pay attention in class. The script describes how AI technology is used to monitor and assess concentration levels, with the headbands sending real-time data to teachers. This data is then used to generate reports that detail each student's focus, which is a key aspect of the AI-driven educational experiment.

💡Surveillance Cameras

Surveillance cameras are used in the video to illustrate the extent of AI implementation in China, not only in classrooms but also in broader societal contexts. In classrooms, they monitor students' behaviors, such as checking phones or yawning, which can indicate lack of engagement. This highlights the intersection of AI with surveillance and raises questions about privacy and the ethical implications of such monitoring.

💡Facial Recognition

Facial recognition technology is a type of biometric software that is used to identify or verify a person from a digital image or video frame. The script mentions its use in China's cashless economy and surveillance systems. In the classroom context, it could potentially be used to identify students for attendance or to personalize educational content, although the script does not detail its specific use in this setting.

💡EEG (Electroencephalography)

EEG is a medical technique that measures electrical activity in the brain. The script explains that the headbands used in classrooms employ EEG technology to measure students' concentration levels. This is a significant application of AI in education, as it allows for the real-time tracking of cognitive states, although it also raises concerns about accuracy and the potential for false readings.

💡Parental Consent

Parental consent is the agreement or permission given by parents for their children to participate in certain activities, such as being part of an AI-driven educational program. The script notes that schools did not face difficulties in obtaining this consent, suggesting a level of acceptance or trust in the technology among parents, despite the potential privacy and ethical concerns.

💡Data Privacy

Data privacy refers to the right of individuals to have control over how their personal information is collected, used, and shared. The video raises concerns about the lack of privacy protection in the context of AI in education, as the data collected by the headbands and other devices may be used for purposes beyond the classroom, without clear consent or knowledge of the parents or students.

💡Educational Experiment

An educational experiment in this context refers to the trial or testing of new educational methods or technologies. The script describes China's use of AI in classrooms as one of the world's largest experiments in AI education. This experiment aims to improve student performance but also involves the collection of vast amounts of data, which could have long-term implications for students' privacy and autonomy.

💡Neural Data

Neural data, as mentioned in the video, pertains to the electrical signals sent by neurons in the brain that are captured by the headbands. This data is then analyzed to assess students' concentration levels. The use of neural data in education is a novel application of AI, but it also brings up ethical questions about the extent to which such intimateç”Ÿç†äżĄæŻ should be monitored and used in educational settings.

💡Disciplinary Measures

Disciplinary measures are actions taken to correct or punish undesirable behavior. The script indicates that some parents use the data from the headbands to enforce discipline, punishing their children for low attention scores. This practice introduces a new kind of pressure for students, potentially affecting their mental well-being and the overall educational experience.

Highlights

Chinese primary school teachers use headbands to monitor students' concentration levels.

The headbands send real-time data on student attentiveness to teachers and parents.

China aims to be a global leader in artificial intelligence, implementing it in various sectors including education.

High-tech classrooms in China include robots analyzing students' health and engagement.

Students wear uniforms with chips that track their locations within the school.

Surveillance cameras monitor student phone use and signs of inattention, like yawning.

Chinese netizens express concern over the use of these AI gadgets in schools.

Schools report no difficulty in obtaining parental consent for AI integration in education.

The AI education program is designed to boost student grades and feed algorithms with data.

The Chinese government has invested billions into AI in education, involving tech giants and startups.

Fifth-grade students use a brain wave sensing gadget for meditation and attention tracking.

The EEG device has three electrodes that pick up electrical signals from the brain.

A report is generated showing class attention levels, including individual student data.

Some question the effectiveness and accuracy of the headbands in measuring concentration.

Neural scientist Theodore Zanto expresses surprise at EEG's use in classrooms.

Teachers claim the headbands have improved student discipline and attention.

Some students feel increased pressure due to attention scores being sent to parents.

Data collected may be used for government-funded research, with unclear privacy protections.

The long-term effects of AI in classrooms are uncertain and will be seen as students grow up.

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