Educator lists 10 things schools should teach children in the age of AI

Hardly any field is left where artificial intelligence (AI) is not being used, and schools and studies are not untouched by it. As technology spreads through daily life, students and parents are asking whether AI will replace humans and schools. Has sitting in a classroom and learning from a blackboard become outdated? The challenge cannot be ignored.

Pranit Mungali, a trustee of Sanskriti Group of Schools, Pune, and an educationist, says AI is nothing less than a boon. But keeping it a boon is the biggest test for today's youth and the whole education system. He cites the story of Ashwatthama launching the Brahmastra in the Mahabharata and its consequences. In his view, the story teaches that one must understand any power before using it, and the same rule applies to AI today. Mungali said schools should develop these 10 key skills in children.

First, children must be told clearly that AI is not the destination but a means of reaching it. Technology should be used to enhance one's abilities, and the work of thinking should not be handed over to it. Understanding the difference between need and want is true wisdom.

Second, feeling and sensitivity. However smart machines become, they cannot feel anyone's tears or pain. It is essential to nurture compassion, empathy and a spirit of teamwork in children. When students work together on a project, they learn to understand others' viewpoints. This is beyond a robot or an algorithm.

Third, the habit of reasoning and cross-checking. Half-knowledge is always dangerous. Instead of blindly trusting every answer from AI, children must be taught the habit of asking questions. They should check facts, test them against reason and then decide for themselves. Only then will self-reliance come.

Fourth, technology is a double-edged sword. Like every scientific discovery, the right use of AI can be a boon for human welfare, while misuse can cause destruction. Children should learn to draw a Lakshman Rekha, a firm line, between where to use technology and where to use their own minds.

Fifth, creativity that thinks outside the box. AI often gives only the answers that have been fed into its data. Real learning lies in thinking beyond the beaten track. With greater imagination and creativity, children will be able to find new solutions and, by going deep into everything, raise new questions themselves.

Sixth, turning negativity into positive energy. Difficulties are part of life. A machine shows an error message when it fails, but a human knows how to fall and recover. Schools should have an atmosphere where failure is seen not as something to fear but as a new chance to learn and improve.

Seventh, a passion for lifelong learning. In a changing world, degrees become outdated after a few years, but the art of learning is always useful. Children should keep a curiosity and hunger to learn something new every day, so that they can adapt to the changes of every era.

Eighth, mental and practical education along with intellectual development. The old method of rote learning produced only bookworms and never built anyone's personality. Schools must understand children's psychology and attend to their mental and emotional needs. Giving practical understanding of the world along with bookish knowledge is the greatest need today.

Ninth, self-control and digital detox. The remote control for how much of anything to use should be in one's own hands. Self-control is essential in children so that they can decide when to stay away from screens and when to rely on their natural understanding.

Tenth, never compromising on basic human values. Values such as truth, honesty, hard work and charity never go out of date. According to Mungali, if children are taught modern technology but not human values, that is, if these 10 values are not taught along with AI, they will end up in a plight like Abhimanyu's.