City of Zug schools want to use AI as a coach
Published: Wednesday, Dec 6th 2023, 12:50
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Artificial intelligence (AI) is to be used in classrooms in the city of Zug. The schools in Zug want to provide pupils with a "future-oriented and innovative learning experience".
AI is a digital revolution as well as a challenge and an opportunity, said Zug's Director of Education Etienne Schumpf (FDP) to the media on Wednesday. As in 2016, when it became the first city in the world to accept Bitcoin as a means of payment, the city of Zug wants to take on a pioneering role and proactively tackle the issue.
Principal Remo Krummenacher justified the commitment by saying that schools should embrace everyday trends and not wait for them to catch up with them. By integrating AI into everyday school life, the opportunities offered by the new technology should be exploited while at the same time providing answers to the risks.
Develop an attitude to the topic
The city of Zug has launched the AI project together with the Lucerne and Zug Universities of Teacher Education. The first step is for teachers to develop an attitude towards the topic and draw up guidelines for dealing with AI.
In a second step, teaching units are to be developed and implemented from March 2024. Artificial intelligence will not be a new school subject. It will be a new method of teaching, said Krummenacher.
Peter Rigert, who heads the Digital Campus at the Lucerne University of Teacher Education and the Zug AI project, said that artificial intelligence should only be used selectively in lessons. The aim is for pupils to build up skills.
Controlled use
In order to achieve the educational goal, an online platform is to be set up. Pupils can use this to communicate with AI chatbots that act as experts. Thanks to the platform, the new technology can be introduced into lessons in a controlled manner without limiting its potential too much, according to the city of Zug.
The AI lessons are not yet fully planned, but according to project manager Rigert, initial ideas have been put forward. Pupils will still have to write their essays themselves. The AI should be a coach and help with learning, said Rigert.
Teachers will continue to have the main role in the classroom. Principal Krummenacher said that a robot cannot replace the relationship that exists between teachers and pupils.
The city of Zug is financing the project from the funds earmarked in the budget for teaching development. The costs amount to around CHF 30,000.
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