Zhang Jieping

2751055427@qq.com

STUDENTS in an English class at the Affiliated High School of Peking University watched intently as a lifelike portrayal of Archimedes came to life on screen. The animated figure, embodying the ancient mathematician, introduced himself with a friendly greeting: “Hi, I am Archimedes. Let me tell you about my life.”

Li Lin, the students’ English teacher, is an experienced educator at this junior high school in Futian. With nearly two decades of experience, she has received numerous awards for her work in education and continues to explore innovation methods of teaching English.

The Archimedes video, part of her efforts to make learning more engaging, was created using Dream Face, an AI application that animates characters in photographs with lifelike speech and perfectly synchronized mouth movements. “My goal is to make learning more engaging for students, so I thought about how famous figures could share their stories through first-person narratives,” she explained.

Li’s students welcomed this innovative approach. “Watching such a hilarious video in class is incredible, and I was so engaged throughout the whole class. I hope to see more innovative elements introduced in our classes,” said a student.

In 2023, the Shenzhen Municipal Education Bureau issued a plan encouraging AI education in schools. However, this initiative is still in its early stages and faces several challenges, including teachers’ limited proficiency and varying willingness to adopt AI technology.

Li’s colleagues, including He Yi, an intern, are actively turning to AI for assistance with teaching. As a novice educator, He views AI as a valuable tool to enhance educational strategies and develop engaging content for students.

Young educators like He Yi are often more open to exploring the integration of new technologies in education, seeing them as opportunities to enhance teaching and student engagement. In contrast, some veteran teachers find it difficult to master these new tools and worry that AI-driven innovations in education could be counterproductive. They fear that such technologies might distract students from their studies and place additional strain on teachers.

Zhang Danyang, an associate professor at SZU specializing in educational technology, expressed both confidence and concerns about AI entering the classroom.

“AI-assisted teaching not only saves time and boosts productivity, but also enriches the educational experience with a wealth of new information and creative ideas,” she noted. However, she also cautioned that teachers must strengthen their ability to screen and select AI-generated content and avoid becoming overly dependent on AI.