Empowering educators with AI is a crucial step towards providing access to quality learning resources and ensuring equal opportunities for all students. Over the years, several institutes have embraced AI to free up educators' time and energy for increased student contact.
Curriculum Associates, a US-based edtech company, is working along similar lines by introducing knowledge agents to assist teachers. By collecting and analysing data from students through various channels, including voice, this technology helps educators make informed decisions to enhance instruction.
In the classroom, the AI tool assists teachers in managing students with different learning levels, providing teaching materials based on each child's needs. For example, if a nine-year-old is learning at a seven- or eleven-year-old level, teachers can access precise learning materials to ensure personalised education for them.
"Our priority is supporting teachers with voice-enabled technologies to help children read, and while generative AI for students will come later, it's not our prime focus," said Rob Waldron, global CEO of Curriculum Associates, in an exclusive interview with AIM.
The company's products support 13 million students and more than one million teachers across the US.
India's educators are keen on adopting AI for education. A recent Digii survey findings revealed that 93% of Indian faculty members across Bengaluru, Delhi, and Hyderabad are enthusiastic about AI and believe it will significantly enhance their teaching experience.
Reflecting on this potential, Waldron said, "Our main focus is on the American market, but I'm eager to learn more about India, and for that, I want to immerse myself in classrooms."
During his recent visit to India, he gained insights into the country's education system by visiting schools. However, Waldron acknowledged that fully understanding the local landscape will require more time and many additional school visits.
"One way I'm doing this is through an organisation called Teach for India, which works to increase the number of high-quality teachers entering the Indian education system," he said.
Waldron explained that Curriculum Associates is a supporter of this initiative, highlighting his long-standing friendship with Wendy Kopp, the CEO and co-founder of Teach For All, which backs similar efforts globally.
India is already witnessing a surge in AI-powered education initiatives aimed at empowering teachers and enhancing learning outcomes.
Over the years, several initiatives have been introduced in the space. For instance, The Connect Institute's Ujjwal Shiksha recently empowered educators to customise their teaching methodologies. This would ensure that each student's unique learning requirements are addressed, thus optimising their academic and personal growth.
Here, they are redefining student assessments through data and analytics, and providing educators with comprehensive insights into students' overall performance. This data-driven approach enables them to design personalised plans, ensuring that every student receives the necessary support to improve.
In the same vein, the Bharti Airtel Foundation has introduced 'TheTeacherApp', a platform for teachers to explore and learn high-quality content. Another interesting initiative is Infinity Learn's VISTA (Virtual Intelligent System for Tailored Academics), designed to harness AI to address the issues encountered by both educators and learners. The objective of the initiative is to "empower educators for tomorrow".
Recently, Curriculum Associates launched its first Global Capability Center (GCC) in Bengaluru, India. This new office will support the company's US-based business operations.
While the technology being developed is primarily focused on the American market, Waldron believes that expansion into India will happen in due time. The company currently has 30 employees and has over 70 open positions. It aims to triple the workforce in the next 2-3 years.
For now, the company is prioritising its support for Teach for India. Waldron highlighted the importance of connecting with local teachers to better understand the Indian market.
As part of this effort, Curriculum Associates is offering Teach for India educators access to its software, which will further enhance their teaching capabilities. During his visit, Waldron also hosted the Teach for India team in Bengaluru, underscoring his commitment to building strong local relationships and deepening the company's involvement in the Indian education system.
Recently, Teach For India released the application for their 2025 fellowship. This will be a paid one for a two-year duration. Once selected, the fellow will have the opportunity to be placed as a full-time teacher in any English-medium government or private school.
