The government announced that it would introduce AI digital textbooks by 2025. However, industry experts are raising concerns about the paradigm shift to digital education and are urging careful review.

The National Assembly Education Committee and the Korean Teachers and Education Workers' Union held a discussion on the topic, "Is the Current AI Digital Textbook Okay?" at the National Assembly Members' Hall on the 23rd. The discussion was attended by Rep. Ko Min-jung of the Democratic Party of Korea, Senior Researcher Joo Jeong-heun of the Seoul Education Policy Research Institute, Researcher Kim Beom-ju of the National Assembly Legislative Research Office, Leading Teacher Song Geun-sang of the Classroom Revolution, President Lee Yoon-kyung of the National Parents' Association for True Education, Director Kim Hyeon-ju of the Education Content Policy Division of the Ministry of Education, Director Song Seon-jin of the Digital Education Transition Division of the Ministry of Education, and Director Park Seong-im of the Personal Information Protection Policy Division of the Personal Information Protection Commission.

The government announced in June of last year that it would introduce 'AI digital textbooks' for subjects such as English, math, information, and Korean (special education) to third and fourth graders in elementary school, first graders in middle school, and first graders in high school starting in March of next year. Starting with this, it will be introduced to all subjects including Korean, social studies, science, and history by 2028. It has been revealed that AI digital textbooks will be provided through the cloud as SaaS (Software as a Service).

■ World's first AI digital textbook to be introduced in 2025

The introduction of 'AI digital textbooks' is the first of its kind in the world. The gist is that 'AI teachers' will be provided so that students can learn according to their individual abilities and levels. When digital textbooks are implemented, students will be provided with tablet PCs to study. 'AI tutors' will analyze learning abilities, attitudes, etc.

Some criticized AI digital textbooks as being premature. Last May, a petition from parents and educators was posted on the National Petition website. The petition contained concerns about smartphone and digital device addiction and declining literacy. The petition received more than 50,000 signatures.

On this day, Democratic Party of Korea lawmaker Ko Min-jung asserted, “The introduction of AI digital textbooks next year is not simply an issue to be viewed simply in that it will bring about a ‘fundamental shift’ that goes beyond the introduction of educational methods or technology, such as changes in teacher-student relationships and the overall educational paradigm.”

Jeon Hee-young, chairwoman of the Korean Federation of Teachers' Associations, also raised issues such as students' △decline in learning comprehension, △decline in communication and expression skills, and △widening educational gap between classes and regions. He cited as an example the negative consequences of remote classes that were implemented due to the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic.

Senior Researcher Joo Jeong-heun said, “AI digital textbooks were developed for the purpose of private education and home study, so they lack the level of sophistication to be considered personalized learning,” and “Since self-directed learning is still not expected to be resolved, their usefulness is questionable.”

He also expressed doubts about the learning data collected through AI digital textbooks. Senior Researcher Joo said, “It is not clear whether the data is connected to each other, how to understand it, and it is difficult to identify the unique learning characteristics of students.” He added that the data collected in connection with the NICE system includes the level of students’ sensitivity, and that there is a lack of social awareness about privacy protection.

■ AI digital textbooks are up to 10 times more expensive than books

The price (cost) of AI digital textbooks is also a matter of controversy. AI textbooks that use a subscription model cost 60,000 to 100,000 won per year. Existing book-type textbooks cost around 10,000 won.

AI digital textbooks are composed of portal services provided by the public and textbook-specific services provided by the private sector. Companies such as Kyowon and Naver Cloud, which are editors and developers in favor of AI digital textbooks, are demanding that the government require each school to use them.

The Ministry of Education announced that it paid 533.32 billion won in special grants for digital education innovation to provincial offices of education across the country in March.

The AI digital textbook screening and review schedule will be completed by November, and the subscription fee per volume will be determined after negotiations between the developer, the Ministry of Education, and the Office of Education. The analysis is that since this cannot be reflected in the original budget that the superintendent of education must submit to the local council, discussions and countermeasures are being sought regarding the use of the budget to support education.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Education announced plans to run both book-type and AI digital textbooks in parallel by 2028. It is believed that AI manufacturers and textbook publishers have already made sufficient progress in development.

When considering the introduction of AI digital textbooks, it seems necessary to weigh whether actual students, parents, and teachers can obtain differentiated usefulness from existing ones in the field.