JAKARTA – As Indonesia celebrates another year of independence, the country faces a crucial question: Can artificial intelligence (AI) transform its education system?
AI holds great promise, but its success depends on teachers’ foundational skills, critical thinking, and innovative teaching methods. For AI to be effective, teachers need both modern technology and the skills to use it well.
This Independence Day, we envision a revolution in teacher professional development through technology. This change is essential for improving education and ensuring true independence for every citizen.
Statistics Indonesia (BPS) reports that in 2022, there were about 3.1 million teachers in the country, with 2.5 million employed by the state. This number falls short of the ideal 4.2 million teachers.
Quality also poses a significant challenge. Competency tests from 2015 to 2021 showed that around 81 percent of teachers did not meet the minimum score. Additionally, Indonesia consistently performs poorly in the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA).
The potential for AI, especially tools like OpenAI, to support teacher development is promising but needs thorough research. The National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) has partnered with the University of Canberra to study how Indonesian teachers use OpenAI. This research aims to better understand AI’s role in education.
The study highlights the need for AI applications tailored to Indonesia’s educational needs. A survey of over 3,000 Indonesian teachers, 58.74 percent of whom were female, found that around 55 percent use generative AI in their teaching, though not extensively. Teachers using AI reported feeling more independent and confident in meeting their students’ needs. They used AI to create diverse learning materials and generate questions that promote higher-order thinking skills (HOTS).
AI can streamline lesson planning and enhance the learning experience, making education more engaging and personalized. However, teachers have expressed concerns about AI reducing critical thinking and problem-solving skills among students. They worry that quick AI solutions might discourage deeper engagement with learning materials and reduce essential social interactions.
Theoretically, AI can boost professional growth by offering real-time feedback in simulated classroom scenarios, helping teachers refine their methods. AI also has the potential to improve pedagogical content knowledge by providing customized resources that aid teachers in understanding complex subjects and adopting innovative teaching strategies.
In Indonesia, bridging the gap between theory and practice is a challenge. AI can help by providing a platform for teachers to explore and refine their teaching strategies.
Integrating AI into education should empower teachers to enhance their professional development independently. This approach aligns with broader national goals of improving educational quality and independence.
As we mark Independence Day, we reflect on our progress and future goals. Embracing AI in education can help prepare teachers and students for a technology-driven future, ensuring our educational programs evolve and support national independence.
Investing in AI research for education is vital. It builds on our historical quest for independence and prepares future generations for a competitive global economy. Developing standards for AI in education should focus on cultural relevance and pedagogical effectiveness.
A national framework for ongoing teacher professional development supported by AI should be established. This will ensure that educational independence keeps pace with technological advancements, balancing the benefits and risks of AI to enrich learning experiences.
This Independence Day, we reaffirm our commitment to exploring AI’s potential to enhance education. By collaborating on AI integration, policymakers, educators, and academics can position Indonesia as a leader in education, independence, and technological innovation.
