Thai education in the AI ​​era

Artificial intelligence is being introduced into many schools in Thailand as a teaching aid, helping teachers reduce their workload and enabling students to approach lessons more actively.

AI and digital tools are being introduced into classrooms in Thailand, helping students participate in lessons more actively. (Source: Bangkok Post)

In a classroom at Wattana Wittaya Academy, Thailand's first and oldest boarding school for girls, students were particularly excited when their teacher demonstrated the AI ​​features of Microsoft Immersive Reader, a reading aid that helps them focus better and absorb content more easily. The classroom atmosphere changed noticeably. Students paid more attention and participated more in the lesson.

For teachers, AI is also beginning to change the way lessons are prepared and organized. AI-powered tools help teachers handle some daily tasks more quickly, freeing up more time to closely monitor each student's learning progress.

Technology is not only a "powerful assistant" for teachers, making lectures more engaging, but it has also become an integral part of teaching and learning activities in many schools in the land of temples.

Large-scale deployment

Wattana Wittaya Academy is one of the pilot schools participating in the Microsoft Showcase School program, part of the Microsoft Elevate for Educators initiative. This program helps teachers and school leaders access professional development courses, practical resources, and international educational networks, thereby integrating AI into schools in a more systematic way.

Ms. Lantip Dvadasin, representing the Board of Directors of Wattana Wittaya Academy, stated that in the current digital landscape, school leaders need to enhance their adaptability and digital capabilities. She emphasized that integrating the Microsoft Showcase School model is a proactive step by the school to improve the digital competitiveness of both teachers and students.

In Thailand, Microsoft Corporation has begun implementing digital skills enhancement activities for teachers through collaborations with various government agencies such as the Office of the Board of General Education under the Ministry of Education, the Office of the Board of Vocational Education, the Office of Electronic Transaction Development, etc.

Microsoft's goal is to train and certify more than 150,000 teachers at the primary, secondary, and vocational education levels by 2026. The plan to integrate AI into schools will continue to expand and be replicated in the future after successful pilot implementations in several pilot models.

Reducing the workload for teachers

Students in an AI application class in Thailand enthusiastically answer their teacher's questions. (Source: Bangkok Post)

Initial results from the Microsoft Elevate for Educators initiative show that AI is helping to optimize teachers' daily work. In many schools, teachers are using AI to develop lesson plans, design worksheets, create interactive activities, and make lessons more engaging. One teacher shared that while preparing lesson plans used to take hours, now, thanks to AI support, the process is completed in just a few minutes.

Microsoft Thailand's AI Impact Survey also recorded optimistic results. Of the 1,414 teachers surveyed nationwide, 67.2% (approximately 950 people) reported using AI in the classroom. On average, each teacher saved 4 hours per week, equivalent to the working time of 95 full-time teachers for a year.

The time saved is significant for teachers, who often have many other tasks to handle besides teaching. With reduced pressure, teachers have more time to monitor student progress, support students, and adjust their teaching methods accordingly.

According to the survey, 76.3% of teachers noted that students were more actively involved in lessons, and approximately 88.6% of schools have implemented or are developing guidelines for using AI.

Towards a responsible AI-based school environment.

According to Microsoft Thailand, as AI enters the classroom, the role of teachers will also change. Teachers will not only impart knowledge but also guide students in asking questions, analyzing information, and verifying the reliability of AI-generated content.

Nontakan Dankitti, a teacher at Dhammajarinee Wittaya school, believes that since students today grow up in an environment closely connected to technology, schools need to guide them in using AI correctly, thinking, analyzing, questioning, and evaluating information from multiple sources.

Teachers guide students in using digital devices during class, as part of a trend to integrate AI into education. (Source: Bangkok Post)

According to her, students also need to understand that using technology should be linked to responsibility and ethics. Guidelines for using AI should not only aim to minimize risks but also help form healthy technology habits in schools. Students need to understand that AI can suggest approaches to problems but cannot replace independent thinking and verification. The final decision still rests with humans.

Students need not only textbook knowledge but also practical skills to learn, work, and adapt to a changing environment. The Microsoft Elevate program is designed to support teachers and schools in effectively achieving that goal.

Dr. Aunampai Passakchai, Principal of Dhammajarinee Witthaya School, believes that when students are equipped with sufficient knowledge and skills, they will increase their competitiveness in the future labor market. Technology, she argues, not only helps students develop life skills and problem-solving abilities but also enhances their capacity to forge their own career paths.

With Microsoft's global expertise and the support of the Thai government , the Microsoft Elevate for Educators initiative is expected to revolutionize AI workforce training, making Thailand an attractive destination for investment and technological innovation in the region.

Source: https://baoquocte.vn/giao-duc-thai-lan-trong-ky-nguyen-ai-398601.html