AI reshapes Liangjiang campuses
At the Ministers' Corridor of the third session of the 14th National People's Congress on March 5, Chinese Education Minister Huai Jinpeng highlighted China's advancements in talent cultivation and technological innovation, citing achievements like DeepSeek and robotics.
Artificial intelligence (AI) is bringing unprecedented changes to the field of education. How is AI redefining education, and how does AI-powered education impact students and teachers? Insights from educators shed light on this educational revolution.
Zhang Xianbin, principal of Xinghu School in Liangjiang New Area, believes that reengineering the education process is one way AI is redefining education.
Unlike traditional teaching methods, Xinghu School has adopted a "multi-dimensional classroom" model. This approach encourages students to take online courses before class and explain specific content to their peers. After recording and passing a review of their teaching videos, students present the content in class. The model aims to enhance student engagement and cultivate their communication skills and critical thinking.
Zhang emphasizes that individualized student development remains at the core of AI-powered education. This concept is reflected in the school's online evaluation platform, which assesses students across multiple dimensions and tracks their growth. Through precise data recording and analysis, students can understand their progress and areas for improvement, while teachers can tailor education strategies to meet each student's unique needs.
Students at Xinghu School interact with a DeepSeek-integrated smart board. [Photo by Xinghu School]
Xingchen School affiliated to Southwest University has developed an AI-powered campus, where technology assists beyond the classroom and supports student mental health.
The school's AI-powered mental health education system integrates monitoring, early warning, intervention, psychological counseling, and mental health education. It provides students with comprehensive and efficient mental health support through gadgets like AI stress-relief tools, personalized psychological profiles, and targeted interventions.
Despite promising advancements, concerns remain on integrating AI into schools. Zhang admits that nearly half of the parents initially expressed skepticism about digital teaching, expressing concerns about screen time affecting students' eyesight, increased educational costs, and potential internet addiction or over-reliance on AI.
However, Zhang stresses that AI is merely a tool, and students learn by giving prompts and receiving feedback. "AI is here to stay, whether you like it or not," he said, urging students to proactively embrace technology and adapt to future trends.
Teachers also face pressure as technology evolves rapidly. Kang Ni, head of the information technology teaching group at Xingchen School, notes that educators often feel a sense of skill inadequacy as they juggle teaching responsibilities and learning new technologies. Additionally, students acquiring knowledge using technology can sometimes undermine teachers' professional authority and thus lead to anxiety.
Students interact with a robot. [Photo by Xingchen School]
Despite these challenges, the education community agrees that AI will not replace teachers. Instead, the role of educators is evolving.
To face this challenge, the role of the teacher is transitioning. Wu Rongmei, director of the teaching guidance department at Xingchen School, said teachers must change from knowledge transmitters to guiding students to learn, foster their creativity, critical thinking, and lifelong learning abilities, and prepare them as future creators.
"Classroom teaching is beyond knowledge input. It involves emotional interactions with students — an element that embodies the warmth of education that machines cannot replicate,” said Zhang.
