With the explosion of AI in education since ChatGPT’s release in November 2022, the edtech market has seen an influx of tools promising revolutionary changes to teaching and learning. But are these tools meeting real classroom needs? Leanlab Education set out to answer this question by working with five edtech companies, each developing AI-powered solutions, through codesign research involving over 40 teachers and their students across the U.S.
The Great Divide: Teachers' Expectations vs. AI Reality
Teachers bring three core expectations to AI-powered edtech. They expect:
These expectations aligned closely with the intentions of the edtech companies developing AI-powered tools involved in our studies. Their logic models and theories of change emphasized four primary goals:
Personalize and differentiate learning to meet individual student needs.
Enhance student engagement and increase agency in learning.
Improve student outcomes by supporting educators and addressing diverse classroom needs.
Support educators in designing, delivering, and providing feedback on instruction.
While teachers' expectations and edtech company intentions are well-aligned, Leanlab’s studies revealed significant gaps in practical application.
Across four Leanlab studies with teachers and students, several issues consistently impacted AI tools’ effectiveness:
Technical issues like slow load times disrupted learning and wasted valuable classroom time.
Differentiation shortcomings meant tools lacked flexibility to meet diverse student abilities, hindering personalized support.
Trust in AI-generated content was low, with teachers questioning accuracy and reliability.
Integration challenges limited how seamlessly tools fit within existing classroom workflows.
Teacher familiarity and confidence with technology varied, affecting both adoption and effectiveness.
These barriers highlighted a core issue: while AI-powered tools aim to save time and enhance learning, their actual usability often falls short, leaving educators questioning the value of incorporating these tools into their classrooms.
Codesign Research: Bridging the Gap with "Humans in the Loop"
Leanlab’s codesign approach—facilitating collaboration between educators and developers—proved instrumental in addressing these gaps. Teachers provided ongoing feedback that informed real-time product changes, fostering improvements in both functionality and teacher trust. For instance, when teachers identified differentiation limitations, Leanlab recommended adding scaffolding to better support learners at various levels. This iterative process not only enhanced tool utility but also empowered teachers, who felt heard and valued in the product development process.
Building Trust and Usability in AI Edtech
Leanlab’s research demonstrates that embedding “humans in the loop” through codesign is essential to creating trustworthy, effective AI tools. This method helps companies validate that products address real classroom needs while evolving based on educator input. By collaborating with a diverse group of teachers and students early on, companies can ensure their tools are equitably designed and accessible across various educational contexts.
At Leanlab, we believe that codesign research is crucial for closing the gap between AI-powered edtech’s promise and reality in education. Interested in exploring how codesign research can shape your product? Discover Leanlab’s approach to creating trustworthy tools that align with teachers’ needs and ultimately transform education.
Codesign Product Research
Curious how codesign research can help bridge the gap for your AI-powered product? Learn more about Leanlab’s approach to creating trustworthy and effective tools by diving into Codesign Product Research. Let’s shape the future of AI in education, together.