Some superintendents express financial difficulties, stating they cannot afford subscription fees and other educational expenses.
(Seoul = Yonhap News) Reporter Ko Eun-ji reports that there are mixed opinions among teachers regarding the effectiveness of AI digital textbooks, which are currently the subject of debate for implementation in schools.
At the hearing held on the 17th by the National Assembly’s Education Committee to verify AI textbooks, Jo Jae-beom, a teacher at Pungdeok Elementary School in Yongin, Gyeonggi, and a director at the Teachers’ Creator Association, compared the concerns surrounding AI textbooks to “giving a restaurant a star rating based only on photos of a menu that hasn’t been developed yet.”
He added, “It’s a bit premature to evaluate AI textbooks that have not yet been used in schools. Criticisms such as digital overload, addiction, or declining literacy are misunderstandings arising from a lack of understanding.”
Jo noted that after a web-based display was presented and training was conducted, “Teachers’ reactions have significantly improved compared to before. As AI textbooks become more widely distributed and utilized by educators, their educational efficiency and effectiveness will be demonstrated.”
He emphasized that “AI textbooks are more responsive AI rather than generative. The ability to provide personalized lessons will definitely aid student learning and teachers’ instruction.”
In contrast, Cheon Kyung-ho, president of the Practicing Education Teachers’ Association and a teacher at Bopyeong Elementary in Seongnam, Gyeonggi, criticized that while AI textbooks might increase students’ interest in subjects, they inadequately communicate the meaning or purpose of why the subjects are learned.
He further explained, “AI textbooks reduce interaction between teachers and students while increasing interaction between students and AI textbooks. As studies abroad have repeatedly shown, the meanings or purposes formed through these relationships fail to reach the students.”
Additionally, he remarked that “AI textbooks are useful for subject supplementation,” suggesting that using them as educational materials or supplementary teaching resources for after-school students is worthwhile.
Some superintendents are expressing financial difficulties. Gyeongnam Superintendent Park Jong-hoon pointed out, “The average price for a print textbook is about 10,000 won per volume, but with AI textbooks costing between 90,000 to 120,000 won, about 10 times more, shouldering this with local educational finances is excessively burdensome.”
Gwangju Superintendent Lee Jeong-seon lamented, “If we are to substitute the subscription fees with local allocation taxes as per the Local Finance Grant Act, there’s currently nothing our financially struggling education office can do, and we have no choice but to appeal to the Ministry of Education for leniency.”