Educator Urges African Teachers to Embrace Artificial Intelligence 

Uchechukwu Nnaike

An assistant principal at Greensprings School, Anthony Campus, Mr. Lanre Oguntoye, has urged African educators to embrace Artificial Intelligence (AI) rather than watch and worry as new trends in the technology unfold. According to him, learning about the technology and adopting its use in their teaching pedagogy would lead to more efficiency. 

Oguntoye, a multi-awarding-winning educator, said this during a recent webinar titled ‘Education in the Age of Artificial Intelligence’, organised by Greensprings Training College. 

“Everyone is on a learning curve when it comes to AI. Thus, it is important for educators in Africa not to take the back seat. As the whole world is embracing AI, we also need to do so as individuals and at an institutional level and not play the catchup game,” he said

Oguntoye highlighted the educational journey from the use of chalkboards, audio-visuals, computers, and digital technology to the now-emerging Artificial Intelligence. He disclosed that learning experiences can now be optimized to suit each learner’s needs with technologies like AI-powered tutors, personalised learning platforms, automated grading systems, adaptive learning algorithms, and intelligent virtual assistants.

According to him, adopting the necessary mind shift will help educators appreciate Artificial Intelligence and incorporate it into their teaching practices. 

He said the required mindsets include: accepting change and understanding that strategies and methods keep on evolving; focusing on the strengths of AI, deliberating working against its weaknesses, and discouraging its abuse.

He also encouraged educators to teach their students on how to use AI intelligently rather than abuse its use. For instance, he said guiding the students in creating brilliant prompts on chatbots to help with their learning exercises and using AI to generate useful flashcards to aid revision. 

Oguntoye is a celebrated educator with multiple awards from reputable educational institutions such as Cambridge University Press and Assessment and Suraasa (International Teachers’ Olympiad).