How AI in Education is Transforming the Classroom
The trial is being overseen by Head of French, Luke Baker. As Luke says, “Sylvi is just one example of how AI is transforming education at Epsom College. AI tools can offer invaluable support to pupils and teachers. For pupils, AI can be a fabulous support tool, for example when preparing for a piece of writing, a useful prompt could be: ‘Provide 50 nouns, 20 adjectives and 20 infinitives I could use in my essay on a past holiday’. Note the difference between this and ‘write an essay on a past holiday for me’. The former prompt is asking AI to supply the paint and paintbrushes (saving the pupil a menial task); the latter is asking it to do the painting for them (lazy and self-defeating).”
Luke explains that AI can be equally transformative for teachers, particularly owing to the way it enables them to generate semi-original content; learning a language being, after all, only as interesting as the content to which one is exposed. “At A-level it is possible to use truly authentic materials but the standard material for beginners is all too often trite and uninspiring. AI holds the key to unshackling teachers and learners from these constraints.”
Epsom Students at the Heart of Development
Currently, Epsom’s Lower Sixth French A-level students are trialling Sylvi in their lessons, offering real-time feedback that Tom and his team are using to refine the app. Luke is collaborating closely with Tom to introduce features tailored to the students’ exam needs. “We’re thrilled to have Tom back at Epsom, bringing innovation to language learning. This hands-on approach is giving our students a unique chance to shape a product that could benefit learners worldwide,” said Luke. The Lent Term will see Year 11 pupils joining the trial, marking another exciting step forward.
With a mix of cutting-edge technology, creative interaction, and personalised feedback, Sylvi is shaping up to be a game-changer in language education – and Epsom’s students are leading the charge.
