AI is upending education and learning as we know it. In collaboration with Qatar Foundation, we wanted to explore the possible impacts, challenges and opportunities that artificial intelligence presents for education internationally and more specifically in the Arab world.
We sat down with Mehdi Benchaabane, director of Qatar Academy Doha, to discuss the current advantages and shortfalls of AI in the classroom. We discuss the significant questions AI has raised around educational honesty and integrity, key concerns at all levels from students, educators and policymakers to parents, and whether the educational system as a whole is broken. Mehdi highlights the unique dynamic between teachers and their students who, as digital natives, are naturally adept at working with and leveraging new technologies. Finally, we reflect on whether AI will redefine educators as "master prompt engineers" who are simply teaching their students how to work effectively with these tools and the linguistic challenges of AI in Arabic.
Mehdi Benchaabane is the director of Qatar Academy Doha. Before taking up his current position, he was the director of the Qatar Foundation’s Education Development Institute where his work focussed on teacher professional learning, curriculum improvement and developing school leadership capacity.
The Qatar Foundation is a not-for-profit organization that brings together centers and programs focused on education, research and innovation, and community development.
Theme music: Peninsular, Tarek Yamani
Hosted by: Mikey Muhanna
Follow and Rate The Afikra Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Anghami, and YouTube
The afikra Podcast is a part of The Afikra Podcast Network
About afikra | عفكرة: We are a movement to convert passive interest in the Arab world to active intellectual curiosity. We aim to collectively reframe the dominant narrative of the region by exploring the histories and cultures of the region – past, present and future – through conversations driven by curiosity. ⚡ Become a member today.