In a pioneering effort to leverage free Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools to enhance educational outcomes, the World Bank has initiated an experiment in Edo State, Nigeria, starting June 2024. This initiative is part of the Education for Global Development program, targeting resource-constrained environments.
The experiment involves 800 first-year senior secondary students attending after-school English classes in computer laboratories twice a week. Each session begins with a teacher introducing a topic, followed by student interactions with Microsoft Copilot, a generative AI tool powered by ChatGPT, to master grammar and writing tasks.
Teachers act as guides, providing mentorship and additional prompts while facilitating reflection exercises at the end of each session. The World Bank's blog emphasizes the potential of generative AI to create human-like content, which can revolutionize personalized learning.
Despite the promise, the blog notes that previous studies have primarily focused on developed countries and relied on expensive software. The lessons learned from the Edo State pilot could offer valuable insights for scaling AI in education globally, particularly in under-resourced settings.
The program's low cost and tailored design make it more scalable than traditional software solutions. However, measuring its impact remains crucial for future success.