Youngsters are behind in Europe with essential tech skills, says report
One in seven children (14 per cent) are already using artificial intelligence (AI) to learn at home. However, just six per cent of youngsters say they are currently being taught about it in school.
AI is advancing at a breakneck speed and analysts say a host of “laptop class” workers will increasingly be replaced by the technology.
But experts argue that the education system is not equipping youngsters with the essential tech skills they need to help them navigate this fast-changing world.
The findings come from a new survey of almost 6,150 parents and children aged 10 to 16 in six European countries including the UK.
It also found that UK youngsters have already fallen behind the rest of Europe in using AI, with Austria leading the continent.
The Future of Education Report 2023 by online tutoring provider GoStudent discovered eight out of ten (81 per cent) parents want technologies including AI, augmented reality and virtual reality taught in schools.
Parents reported that they did not feel equipped to teach their children about these technologies, with just a quarter of mums and dads saying they have a good understanding of how to operate and use AI.
In the UK, just a third (32 per cent) of children use AI to learn in school or at home. The most educated in the technology was Austrians with 43 per cent, followed by Italy (41 per cent) and Spain (40 per cent).
The research found pupils are “excited by the opportunities they see within the Metaverse for the future of the classroom”.
Among those aware of it, four in five children are interested in seeing the Metaverse being applied for educational purposes, with two-thirds believing it will make education more fun. Over half (57 per cent) feel that it will allow them to learn more effectively, due to interactive and experiential learning environments.
The report said: “In order to live up to this excitement, there is a strong need for both public and private institutions to focus on ensuring every teacher and child has access to all the training they need to get the best out of ever-advancing technologies.
“By supplementing in-classroom learning with virtual reality, and daytime teaching with additional afternoon support, children will be fully empowered to embrace the world of tomorrow.”
