Frontier Technologies for Education: Artificial Intelligence (AI), Blockchain, Open Architecture, and more

AI in Education Global Community of Interest (CoI)

The AI in Education Global Community of Interest brings together practitioners on emerging uses of artificial intelligence to support teaching and learning around the world. This group aims to share knowledge on how new technologies can be applied to improve the educational outcomes for the world's most underserved learners. This effort is convened by the World Bank, in partnership with the AI Observatory of the EdTech Hub.

FEATURED EVENTS:

AI Tutors and Teaching: How Might the Role of the Teacher Change in an Age of AI?
Wednesday, May 14, 2025

Much has been made of the potential for a new generation of chatbots to provide more personalized learning to students by serving as AI tutors. Such tools can provide more accessible opportunities to learn whenever, wherever – especially in educational setting where student-to-teach ratios are very high. These tools can also provide a cost-effective way to realize the "two-sigma effect" to improve student learning outcomes through one-to-one tutoring. At least, that is the promise. What is the role for teachers in such an environment? To what extent does a teacher’s role change? Most responsible proponents of the use of AI tutors say that their products are meant to augment, not replace teachers: but what does this mean in practice?

The World Bank, the Edtech Hub's AI Observatory and other partners explore emerging perspectives on what works and what doesn't, inside classrooms where teachers are teaching and students are working with AI tutors. We'll contrast experiences in using AI tutoring products in the hope that doing so might provide insights into how AI is likely to change the nature of traditional classroom learning and the relationships between teachers and students. We will also put forward and seek Global Public Goods to help address this challenge.

AI Use in Education Around the World:  What is Happening, Where – and How?
Wednesday, March 12, 2025 | Recording

The first bi-monthly meeting of the 2025 AI in Education Global Community of Interest, brought together 157 people from over 40 countries, including policymakers from almost two dozen Ministries of Education, on emerging uses of artificial intelligence to support teaching and learning.

Frontier Technologies for EdTech Community of Practice (CoP) series:

From 2020-2023 the World Bank sponsored a series of webinar discussions on Frontier Technologies for Education, in partnership with the Learning Economy Foundation (LEF). A companion Community of Practice (CoP) developed to bring together committed individuals and organizations working on the utilization of frontier technologies to generate value in education systems. Members discussed the practical realities of effectively utilizing related technologies and shared lessons from their work and research. Ministries of Education interested in the use of edtech to improve teaching and learning are an important focus audience within this CoP.

Past Learning Events 

Artificial Intelligence in Education (Part 2)
Nov 2023 | Recording
A Closer Look at AI’s Promises & Limitations for Education

Artificial Intelligence in Education (Part 1)
May 2023 | Recording
Equity & Democratization (Why), Skills & Assessment (What), and Content Generation & Curation (How)

Data Structures for Learning Outcomes 
Sep 2022 | Recording
NFTs, Verifiable Credentials, & Beyond in Education

A 2021 Retrospective + 2022 Roadmap
Mar 2022 | Recording

Workshops exploring the utilization of specific blockchain technologies to support learning and the incorporation of Web3 technologies: 

Token Economics
Dec 2021 | Recording
Rethinking Value Exchange and Incentives for Education (incentive structures for students, teachers, mentors, and digital content creators) 

Assessment and Measurement
Oct 2021 | Recording
Use of blockchain technology to incentivize and automate assessment and student learning results verification through smart contracts

Skills Economy (Part 2)
Sep 2021 | Recording
The skills that should and can be accredited; focused on skill registries and task repositories

Learner-Centered Credentials (Part 1)
Jun 2021| Recording
Focused on digital wallets, identification and student ownership of data 

Education Ecosystems/Crypto-Networks
Apr 2021 | Recording
New organizational structures for education focused on opensource standards, as well as legal and regulatory frameworks for countries

Blockchain and FinTech for Education
Feb 2021 | Recording
What is the blockchain and why is it relevant for education 

Community of Practice Participating organizations (not comprehensive)