Key Points:
- Educators remain confident in integrating technology into their instruction, with 97% feeling confident in using technology in an instructionally effective way.
- The use of generative AI has increased 5x in one year, with 76% of educators believing it is valuable to their work and 72% planning to use it more in the next school year.
- Despite the benefits, educators have concerns about plagiarism (58%), student over-dependence (54%), and lack of professional development (35%).
Outlook on Classroom Technology:
Over the past decade, educators have maintained a high level of confidence in using technology to enhance teaching and student achievement. Key findings include:
- 97% of educators are confident in using technology in an instructionally effective way.
- 66% say tools connecting instruction with supplemental practice, intervention, and assessment on one platform would be a game-changer.
- Of those teaching 10 years or more, 81% feel tech has had a positive impact on the profession over the past decade.
Outlook on Generative AI: Early Optimism, Caution Ahead
The 2024 AI Confidence Index highlights the evolving challenges and opportunities in education. Key findings include:
- 76% of educators believe generative AI is at least somewhat valuable to their work.
- 73% say it saves them time.
- 72% plan to use it even more in the next school year.
- Educators overwhelmingly agree that tools utilizing generative AI should be harnessed positively, with all users taught to use them ethically (84%) and need to fulfill teacher professional development needs to address their application (76%).
- However, there is a wariness among educators using generative AI about students using the tech to take shortcuts, with concerns about plagiarism (58%), student over-dependence (54%), and lack of professional development (35%).
Outlook on Teaching: There’s Work to Do
Despite remaining resilient and committed to improving education, many educators feel negatively about the profession. Key findings include:
- Educator sentiment toward the profession is lower today than when the survey began in 2015, with 41% of educators feeling positive versus 36% today.
- 64% of educators still feel negatively about the state of teaching and learning, citing concerns about inadequate compensation, mental health, and lack of funding.
- 41% of educators have yet to rule out leaving the field, and 26% say they will leave within the next five years.
Conclusion
The 2024 Educator Confidence Report highlights the evolving challenges and opportunities in education. While educators remain confident in integrating technology into their instruction, there are concerns about the impact of generative AI and the state of teaching and learning. As the report underscores, there is work to be done to address these concerns and ensure educators have the tools, technology, and professional learning support they need to help every student get a quality education.
FAQs
Q: What is the 2024 AI Confidence Index?
A: The 2024 AI Confidence Index is a new metric created to examine how educators feel about the impact and potential of generative AI.
Q: How confident are educators in using technology in their instruction?
A: 97% of educators are confident in using technology in an instructionally effective way.
Q: What are the concerns about generative AI among educators?
A: Educators have concerns about plagiarism, student over-dependence, and lack of professional development.
Q: How does the report highlight the evolving challenges and opportunities in education?
A: The report highlights the evolving challenges and opportunities in education, including the growing role of digital technologies, including generative AI, in transforming classrooms.
