By the Numbers
A new survey released by the Walton Family Foundation shows growing support from teachers, students, and parents for the use of GenAI in schools, even though training and guidance still lag far behind.
We love seeing new data and evidence on GenAI use and perceptions and here are our highlights & takeaways:
Teachers are LESS favorable of GenAI chatbots then they were last year, but still 59% of surveyed teachers see the tools in a positive light
Teachers that have never used GenA have a more negative perception than those that have, which echoes what we see in our work on the ground
50% to 38% of teachers think that GenAI has legitimate educational use for students, but those that have never used the tool have more negative perceptions
40% and 44% of K-2 and 3-5 teachers say they would allow GenAI use, but not actively encourage it. This is a concern due to the lack of fit-for-purpose tools for elementary school and the potential impact on student wellbeing
2/3rds of teachers say they either don't have or unaware of having a formal GenAI policy/guidelines
56% public school teachers vs 42% private school teachers say they have not received any training , while 73% use GenAI tools
6-12 graders are using these tools much more than last year (~70%)
Parents of all demographics want schools to use GenAI more to support their students
Students and teachers agree the biggest benefit of GenAI is in explaining concepts that students struggle with
Male, Black, younger and urban teachers are more likely to use GenAI at work (seeing the first two in a couple of studies now)
While this survey reveals growing support for AI in education among key stakeholders, the lack of comprehensive training and clear policies is still a major concern, which we continue to see in our work. Check out the full survey here and let us know what you think!
