Positioning Indonesia as a hub for education and technological innovation

Indonesia is embracing advances in artificial intelligence (AI) that could transform the country'seducation system.

Indonesian teachers use AI as a tool to diversify learning materials and create assessment questions to promote higher-order thinking. (Source: Jakarta Post)

We cannot deny the great potential of AI, but the application of this tool in education depends on teachers' background knowledge, critical thinking and creative teaching methods. Integrating AI into professional development requires teachers to be fully equipped with modern equipment and have critical thinking skills to use it effectively.

According to data from the Central Statistics Agency (BPS), in 2022, the country will have about 3.1 million teachers, of which 2.5 million are state employees. However, this number is still lower than the ideal level of 4.2 million teachers.

In addition to teacher quantity, quality remains a major challenge. Competency tests from 2015-2021 showed that about 81% of teachers did not meet the minimum threshold. As a result, Indonesia consistently ranks low in the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) in terms of student achievement in learning activities.

Although we know that integrating AI, especially Open AI, in improving the quality of teachers will promote autonomy in education, we need to do careful research to confirm whether this method is suitable or not.

To this end, the education research team at Indonesia’s National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) collaborated with the University of Canberra to study how Indonesian teachers use OpenAI, in order to draw general conclusions about integrating AI into educational methods.

A survey of more than 3,000 Indonesian teachers found that about 55% of them use generative AI in their teaching and feel more independent and comfortable in meeting the needs of their students, especially in today's digital age. These teachers use AI as a tool to diversify learning materials, as well as to create assessment questions to promote higher-order thinking.

The comprehensive use of AI not only simplifies the process of creating materials and planning lessons, but also enhances the learning experience, making education more engaging and personalized.

However, teachers have expressed concerns that relying on AI will reduce students’ critical thinking and problem-solving skills, as instant solutions from AI can kill students’ interest in studying lessons. At the same time, over-exploitation of AI can reduce direct social interaction, which is an important condition for developing communication skills between individual students and the learning environment.

Overall, AI can act as a catalyst for professional development by providing authentic feedback to the simulated classroom, allowing teachers to adjust their teaching methods for optimal results.

In addition, AI has the ability to build expertise by providing customized content, helping teachers better understand complex topics and apply innovative teaching strategies. This approach not only meets the diverse needs of students, but also “guides” teachers to overcome various educational barriers.

In Indonesia, bridging the gap between theory and practical application remains a challenge. AI can help bridge this gap by helping teachers brainstorm and refine teaching strategies. In addition, integrating AI into education can enable teachers to develop their own expertise, thereby helping to personalize teaching methods.

Investing in AI research in education is crucial. It not only reflects the legacy of Indonesia’s struggle for independence, but also lays the foundation for future generations. Jakarta needs to develop rigorous standards for AI in education, focusing on cultural relevance as well as teaching effectiveness.

It is important that Jakarta balances the benefits and risks of AI in education, promoting the integration of modern technology with traditional learning materials, thereby contributing to positioning Indonesia as a vibrant hub of education and technological innovation.

Source: https://baoquocte.vn/dinh-vi-indonesia-nhu-mot-trung-tam-giao-duc-va-doi-moi-cong-nghe-283673.html