We recently had a launching ceremony for our AI Guidance for Schools Toolkit workshop, in collaboration with SEAMEO STEM-ED through promoting the use of TeachAI‘s toolkit, that I helped organised and gave consultations to. Our STEP Centre (Science, Technology, Environment Partnership) is the main organiser, as a member of SEAMEO STEM-ED, while our unit, the Strategic Management Unit, co-organised as part of our Future of Learning Programme.

The event saw Dr Kritsachai Somsaman from SEAMEO STEM-ED sharing his insights on Generative AI for education in his keynote presentation where he joined us virtually via MS Teams from Bangkok.

Besides facilitating AI Ethics workshops throughout June and July for nationwide participants, I also had the honor of presenting at the launch to a hybrid audience. I thought I’d share the highlights from that presentation.

Hybrid Launch Event: A Blend of Tradition and Innovation

The launch was a hybrid event, combining the energy of live attendees with the reach of over 300 online participants using Microsoft Teams. Coordinating and managing the hybrid equipment using my own resources (from condenser mics to the mixers), I was able to ensure a seamless experience for all attendees. I wanted to promote an approach that would highlight our adaptability and dedication to leveraging technology for enhanced educational experiences.

Presentation: AI is Changing Our Lives

My presentation, titled “AI is Changing Our Lives: An Education Perspectives”, focussed on the transformative impact of AI on education – specifically highlighting how it would impact the education in Brunei and ways on how we can take advantage of the recently released Creative Thinking domain results from PISA2022. Below is an overview of the key points and discussions from the presentation:

1. Understanding AI in Education

Understanding AI in education is crucial for Brunei’s educational landscape. AI tools provide personalised learning experiences, adapting to each student’s needs and pace. AI-powered analytics identify strengths and weaknesses, enabling targeted support and enhancing teaching and learning. This approach promotes creative and critical thinking, essential skills for our students’ futures.

In Brunei, AI integration needs to align with our national philosophy, MIB (Melayu Islam Beraja), emphasising equity and inclusivity. AI ensures all students have equal access to quality education, regardless of their background or abilities. Additionally, when AI streamlines administrative tasks, this can allow educators to focus more on teaching and mentoring.

Ongoing training and development for educators are vital to effectively harness these tools so we need to leverage on AI to create a more engaging, equitable, and effective learning environment, preparing our students for the challenges and opportunities of the 21st century, and fostering a future-ready generation for Brunei’s growth and development.

2. Preparing Students for the Future

Preparing students for the future involves equipping them with essential AI knowledge, as many future jobs will demand AI-related skills. Understanding AI is crucial for students to navigate and thrive in an increasingly digital and automated world. By integrating AI education, we ensure that our students are not only familiar with these technologies but also capable of leveraging them effectively. This preparation is key to fostering a generation that is ready to meet the demands of the modern workforce and contribute to Brunei’s digital transformation.

3. Improving Administrative Efficiency

Improving administrative efficiency through AI can greatly benefit Brunei’s education system. AI can automate routine tasks like grading and attendance tracking, freeing up valuable time for educators to focus on teaching and mentoring. Additionally, AI systems can optimise scheduling, resource allocation, and student management, making school operations more efficient. This streamlining allows educators to dedicate more energy to delivering quality education and supporting student success, ultimately enhancing the overall learning experience.

4. Promoting Creative and Critical Thinking

This is essential for preparing students for the future. AI encourages innovative problem-solving by providing new tools and methods for exploration. By integrating AI into the curriculum, we foster critical thinking as students learn to evaluate and interact with these technologies. This not only enhances their problem-solving skills but also prepares them to navigate and leverage AI effectively in their future careers. This approach ensures that our students are not just passive consumers of technology but active, critical thinkers and innovators.

5. Ethical Considerations and Digital Citizenship

Understanding AI includes recognising its ethical implications, such as privacy, bias, and fairness. Educators play a crucial role in guiding students to become responsible digital citizens, making them aware of the impacts and uses of AI in society. This knowledge helps students navigate ethical challenges and promotes a culture of responsible AI use. By addressing these considerations, we ensure that students are not only tech-savvy but also ethically conscious and socially responsible.

This is an area that I spend my workshop focus on as I feel it is important that AI ethics are considered when educators bring in AI tools into their institutions and their classrooms

6. Supporting Inclusive Education

Supporting inclusive education is a key benefit of AI. AI can create inclusive learning environments by offering tools like speech-to-text and text-to-speech applications for students with special needs. Additionally, AI-driven language translation and accessibility features ensure all students have equal learning opportunities. This approach helps bridge gaps in education, providing a more equitable and supportive environment for every learner. I also used my AI video as an example of content that can be used for students with dyslexia while ensuring equity is being practised in the classroom.

Highlighting the Need for Change and Transformation

One of the key themes of my presentation was the distinction between change and transformation, especially relevant to Brunei’s education system. While incremental changes (first-order changes) refine existing structures, transformative changes (second-order changes) fundamentally alter the way systems operate. In Brunei’s context, this means moving beyond merely updating curriculums to integrating AI in ways that revolutionise teaching and learning processes.

• First-Order Change: Incremental improvements, such as updating lesson plans with new AI tools, without fundamentally changing the educational approach, can enhance current practices within Brunei’s schools.
• Second-Order Change: Profound shifts that alter core educational methodologies, like adopting AI to overhaul teaching and learning processes entirely, can position Brunei as a leader in innovative education, preparing students for a future dominated by advanced technologies. By embracing these transformative changes, we can work towards an education system that evolves to meet the demands of the modern world and aligns with Brunei’s vision for digital and educational advancement.

PISA 2022 Insights and Future Directions

Drawing from the PISA 2022 results, I emphasised the importance of fostering creative thinking in students, particularly within the context of Brunei’s education system. The findings revealed a gap between students’ low self-efficacy in creative thinking and their high openness to intellectual art and experience. To bridge this gap in Brunei, we need to enhance the curriculum with creative thinking exercises, provide teacher training, and promote extracurricular activities that foster creativity.

• Curriculum updates: Include AI literacy and ethics to prepare Brunei’s students for future challenges, ensuring they are well-equipped for an AI-driven world.
• Training programmes: Equip Brunei’s educators with the knowledge and tools for AI applications, enabling them to effectively integrate AI into their teaching practices.
• Infrastructure improvements: Support AI integration in Brunei’s schools, ensuring that the necessary technological infrastructure is in place for effective implementation.
• Policy and framework development: Establish AI governance in Brunei’s education system (especially linking to the upcoming Brunei Darussalam AI Governance and Ethics Guide), creating policies and frameworks that guide the ethical and effective use of AI in schools.

By focusing on these key areas, we can equip Brunei’s students with the skills and confidence they need for the future, cultivating a culture of creativity and innovation that supports our national educational vision and objectives.

Looking Ahead: Embracing AI in Education

The future of education in Brunei hinges on leveraging AI to cultivate environments that promote creative thinking and innovation. By integrating AI into our educational system and encouraging creative problem-solving, we can prepare our students to meet the challenges and seize the opportunities of the 21st century.

Conclusion: A Call to Action

As we progress, it is essential to embrace both change and transformation in Brunei’s education system. By aligning our educational practices with national digital transformation plans and strategic objectives, we can prepare a skilled workforce ready for future economic growth. This endeavor demands continuous collaboration, innovation and a steadfast commitment to ethical AI practices.

Thank you for reaching the end of this long article. I hope you managed to go through, even if you used AI to summarise the whole thing! Next, highlights from the workshops for school leaders and teachers. Coming soon!