The Italian region is using AI in schools to enhance performance outcomes in an effort to mainstream technology use in education. According to headmaster Paolo Pedullà of IIS Tommaso Salvini in central Rome, “Learning from mistakes is crucial, and AI can really become an indispensable tool for students but also for teachers.”

Innovation will be piloted in 15 schools of four regions, with approximately 2,000 students attending Pedullà’s own institution. It will thus be a mixed class and one group of students will learn subjects in the traditional way, while another group will have lessons held with AI technology; particularly, science, Italian, Latin, and English studies. Teacher Ezio di Costanzo said that this is an opportunity to make a comparison between results in the two groups.

I expect AI to capture and learn the details of student progress, then use that information to give targeted feedback, which would allow the student to understand where he or she needs to work on. “AI doesn’t point to where the mistake is; it suggests to the student specifically what area should be focused on,” Pedullà explained. According to him, support through extra resources can reduce dropout as it offers students a more personal form of learning.

The Italian ministry of education has so far not indicated when the trial will commence or any information on how it will be held. Schools will devise their action plans as the teachers look forward to being trained on their expected roles. Third year students, that is 17-year-old students, at IIS Tommaso Salvini will be the only ones using an online platform both for home and school.

Clearly, students are hugely engaged very positively with AI. Gaia Colabella, a final year, showed clear awareness of what challenges can be posed by AI. “We have grown up with these technologies, so we understand the importance of regulated use,” she said.

Education Minister Giuseppe Schiboni said that the effort would better prepare students for the labor market and could make education outcomes better match industry specific needs. The two-year trial run will be regularly evaluated for its efficiency and extended into more programs.