An Introduction to AI in Education

Ready or not, here it comes. Artificial intelligence (AI) is no longer a distant concept; it’s here, stirring up both excitement about new opportunities—and plenty of concerns. Questions about reliance, ethics, and the impact of AI on education have arisen almost as quickly as the new tech itself. As AI permeates into our daily lives, including classrooms, it is crucial to understand its implication and potential benefits for educators and students. 

We at Britannica Education understand the challenges of introducing new tech into classrooms, especially when there’s a need for more professional development around AI. We’ve challenged ourselves to help bridge that gap. After all, fulfilling the overwhelming need for reliable, trusted, and fact-checked information is what we do best.

Like many of your peers in education, you might be grappling with how to introduce new tech in your classrooms—or even whether to do it at all. And while these looming questions impact almost all educators, few feel equipped to properly navigate the new landscape.

Let’s clarify some key AI-related terms, explore its history, and examine its transformative role in education. While acknowledging concerns such as ethical considerations and privacy issues, we’ll also highlight AI’s potential to enhance instruction, cater to diverse student needs, and drive educational innovation.

Vocab Time

First, let’s clear up some of the terminology floating around online.

🤖 Artificial Intelligence (AI) is the ability of a digital computer or computer-controlled robot to imitate intelligent human behavior. The tasks it can perform require the ability to reason, discern, discover meaning, and learn from past experience. AI is taught to learn from data and adapt by developers. It can function to solve problems, answer questions, make predictions, and even offer strategy.

Some AI matches human abilities for specific tasks, and others work faster or more efficiently than humans can. From your phone to your car, smart TVs to kitchen appliances, and countless areas in between, AI is involved in much of what we do. However, no existing AI can perform the same extensive range of tasks that humans can.

🧩 Machine Learning (ML) refers to how AI is trained—machine learning enables a computer to learn to perform tasks autonomously, or without being explicitly programmed for individual circumstances. Like humans, machines mine data—images, video, text, audio—learning to recognize patterns and make predictions accordingly.

Machine learning is what helps a digital computer achieve artificial intelligence. We see the applications of machine learning in many areas, including social media, voice and facial recognition, and product recommendations.

⚙️ Algorithms are step-by-step instructions for completing a task, automating a process, solving a problem, or accomplishing some other end. AI uses algorithms for large-scale data analysis, making it more efficient and effective. We see real-world results of algorithms regularly with technology such as digital assistants like Siri and Alexa.

A Brief History of AI

While the AI debate may seem recent to many of us, AI has actually been around for decades. British logician and computer pioneer Alan Turing began exploring machine intelligence in the 1930s. In the 1950s, he questioned whether a machine has the ability to think and introduced central concepts of AI.

From calculators to cell phones, the introduction of AI and its potential impact on education and learning is often hotly debated, spurring conversations around both potential and risks. No matter where you stand, understanding the basics and adapting to ever-evolving tech is critical for both you and your students.

Today, Turing is considered the father of artificial intelligence and modern cognitive science, and the Turing test remains the criterion for evaluating computer intelligence.

In subsequent decades, technology continued to advance globally, making its way into the classroom. With each new tool came unparalleled possibilities—if the tech was implemented right. More recently, the internet and smartphones have permanently altered the educational environment. AI is on track to do the same.

How AI Is Changing Education

AI raises a range of questions, even proven disadvantages. While Britannica is championing the exciting potential of AI, it is important to acknowledge and validate the understandable apprehension many people experience when it comes to AI. 

Among the primary concerns are ethical considerations, biases, cheating, information, transparency, privacy, and accountability. Conversely, new AI tech unleashes capabilities to engage students, cater to diverse students’ needs and abilities, enhance instruction and productivity, and innovate education like we’ve never seen before.

Media Literacy Tools

Of course, the answer to how to navigate the new AI world isn’t simply black and white. It is a complex landscape filled with questions and immense opportunities. It’s also why we have a plethora of media literacy classroom tools and lesson plans available!

🌐 Media Literacy for the Digital Era
Visit our webpage to access our hub of trusted resources for navigating modern media, including our Media Literacy e-book, quick fact-checking tips, and graphic organizers and instructional strategies for bringing modern skills to the classroom.

📘 Teach Britannica Lesson Minis
Find age-appropriate digital literacy-themed activities in our open-access educator hub, Teach Britannica. Some of our favorites:

Grades 3–5

🌍 My Digital World

🌿 Algorithm Adventures for the Environment

Grades 6–8

🤖 Media Literacy in the Age of AI

🤔 Media Literacy: Think. Question. Create.

Grades 9–12

🧾 Reality Check: Media Literacy for a Changing World

🎯 Messages That Matter: Creating Media with Purpose

Professional Learning

Explore our entire professional development course catalog, which offers flexible implementation options for supporting your educators. Specifically, you’ll find our Teaching for Tomorrow series in our 21st-Century Skills cohort, which provides essential skills, activities, and case studies for making media literacy education a reality for your students.

AI can feel exciting and overwhelming all at once, but we’re here to help! Contact us to learn more about how we can reaffirm the importance of media literacy with practical tips to ensure you and your students are well-equipped for the future ahead.