Mixed Feelings About The AI Revolution In Education
At the ESHA Biennial in October 2025, school leaders from a dozen countries gathered in Rome for the EduAId workshop lead by ESHA education consultant Judit Horgas, discussing how artificial intelligence is reshaping classrooms, staffrooms, and even the future of teacher training. This was no ordinary roundtable – it was an energetic, multinational brainstorm charged with ambition and critical debate.
What’s changing?
AI isn’t just science fiction now: school heads and teachers already use AI for everything from routine document translation and regulation checks to proofreading and lesson planning. These tools turbocharge admin tasks, freeing professional educators to focus on what matters most: engaging discussions and personalized learning for students.
Learning gets creative!
Imagine students writing songs for lessons using AI or receiving instant, tailored feedback on their work. The workshop buzzed with examples of how technology sparks motivation in learners and transforms classroom dynamics.
But it’s not all smooth sailing.
Participants raised alarms about the risks: bias in AI-assessed work, the slow erosion of crucial manual skills, and the danger of students becoming over-dependent on digital solutions. The consensus was clear – AI is powerful, but only when paired with human judgment and relational teaching.
Micro-credentials: The next big leap?
One show-stopping innovation is the development of AI-powered micro-courses for professional educators. These credentials could revolutionize professional development and future job prospects, but school leaders are demanding robust standards: real human interaction, relevant classroom skills, and credible validation – no gimmicks or automation-only solutions!
The regulatory question
The school leaders agreed: regulation is vital, but it must be age-sensitive, and support professional educators and families rather than just restrict. Some countries and schools are going back to basics – handwritten essays and device-free lessons – to keep critical skills sharp.
The verdict?
There’s no overarching optimism about AI’s role in education – careful caution and worried expectations are more prevalent. School leaders want efficiency, creativity, and tailored learning, but never at the expense of ethics, credibility, or the uniquely human heart of teaching.
The future is here – and it’s up to us to shape it!
The Rome workshop proves: AI in education is not just a trend and it is unstoppable. But this evolving journey depends on wise, passionate professional educators who can work together to build a truly human-centered, future-ready system.
