Early Childhood Workforce:  Where and How Can AI Support?

The early research on the use of generative AI tools…suggests that those children who are underperforming the most are gaining the most from access to this technology.
– Isabelle Hau, Stanford Accelerator for Learning, Stanford University 

Isabelle Hau of Stanford Accelerator for Learning, Stanford University offered the quote above during our June 25, 2024 GLR Learning Tuesdays session as panelists delved into the potential role of AI in supporting the early childhood education (ECE) workforce.  

The discussion opened with the recognition that the ECE workforce is experiencing significant challenges, such as burnout and high turnover rates. AI is presented as a tool that can offer substantial support in this sector. Hau highlighted the early research indicating that generative AI has an “equalizer effect,” suggesting that children who are underperforming can benefit significantly from access to this technology. Hau emphasized the importance of equitable access, noting that AI tools must be accessible to all to avoid exacerbating existing inequities.

AI presents various opportunities for the ECE workforce, including personalized learning experiences and administrative support. Michelle Kang of National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) discussed the potential of AI to assist in data management and lesson planning, which can free up educators to focus more on direct interactions with children. Kang said, “AI can provide the sketch but we as human beings have to provide the color. We can’t depend on AI to provide that complete picture. It is a tool to be able to help provide that picture.” However, Kang and Celia Stokes of Teaching Strategies also cautioned against potential risks, such as data privacy concerns and the need for AI tools to be inclusive and representative of diverse contexts. Highlighting both the promise and the digital divide challenge and emphasizing the need for equitable access to technology, Kang stated, “We really have to be thinking about proceeding with caution…not losing sight of equity in all of this.”

Ensuring that AI is used effectively and equitably requires thoughtful implementation and ongoing support. Jay Lee stressed the importance of “investing in the technologies around AI to make the pathway into becoming a certified teacher more accessible and more inclusive.” This involves providing adequate training for educators to use AI tools effectively and ensuring that these tools are designed to support diverse learning environments. Lee emphasized the need for AI to aid in teacher recruitment and retention by making the profession more sustainable.

As the conversation shifted to talk about what this means for grassroots implementation, Dana Clarkson shared practical examples of how AI is currently being integrated into classrooms. At Design39Campus, AI is used to foster creativity and engagement among students. Clarkson described a project where AI tools helped students write and perform music lyrics, integrating their interests with educational standards. This approach illustrates how AI can be a collaborative tool in the learning process, helping to make education more engaging and personalized for students​.

For families, there is an emerging conversation and recognition around how AI can be a powerful force for good. According to Keri Rodrigues of the National Parents Union, 67% of American families believe that the potential benefits of AI outweigh the negatives. And the major reason why we’re seeing that is because one silver lining of the pandemic is parents being very involved in education and deeply concerned about whether their children were going to be adequately supported. There is “real interest in personalized learning and individualized attention and how parents can use data for good and for action. And so, what AI does from their perspective is really open up the avenue [for this] and the idea that we can adapt learning materials to a student’s pace and learning style, or create new content from practice problems and videos, or just making sure that we’re providing data-informed insights. We have parents right now [who are hungry for] more information, and, even at the earliest ages, want to make sure their child is on track so that they can intervene and take action around the things that they need to do to support.” And AI provides that opportunity.