As a Division Head, focusing your faculty on the students and their learning is one of the most important roles you have. New ways of teaching can be auditioned, but how to know if they will work?
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is making its way into classrooms as a supplemental teaching method and it has been met with decent progress. Intellitar, an Alabama technology firm, is striving to use this technology to digitally clone teachers and instructors to create another avenue of learning. A teacher in Alabama is currently developing her avatar, while Intellitar is working with several facilities, including a private school. (Retrieved from: http://www.eschoolnews.com/2011/04/06/next-for-education-teacher-avatars/)
This computer-age method is helpful for middle school students who are absent or need a more thorough explanation of the class materials. It also is much more interactive, thus making the students participate.
Several scripts are written in conjunction with the teacher's lesson plans, with responses to the questions the teacher avatar asks. The avatar is the teacher’s face/body, voice, and the teacher's message—questions, information, etc. These supplemental lessons utilize the technology to assist the teachers in creating lessons.
In addition to using the teacher's or faculty member’s likeness, it’s likely avatars can be created in the form of famous historical figures, such as Benjamin Franklin. Avatars could be created for all subjects—historical figures discussing history, possibly Madame Curie can explain chemistry and physics, Picasso to demonstrate art, etc. The possibilities are surely endless when you can "clone."
Guiding your faculty to innovative teaching methods can only fan the fire of students’ interest in learning, ultimately preparing them for the future.
