On October 26, 2023, the 2024 Beijing Digital Education Work Promotion Conference took place, officially unveiling the “Beijing Guidelines on the Application of Artificial Intelligence in Education.” This landmark document, the first of its kind in the education sector commissioned by the Beijing education authorities, outlines the appropriate norms for employing AI in educational environments, aiming to guide schools and educators in a safe and organized adoption of this technology.
The guidelines cover 29 typical scenarios across six key areas, including supporting teaching, learning, assessment, character development, research, and management. By providing structured guidance on these applications, the guidelines ensure that AI technologies can be effectively integrated into various aspects of educational practices, from teaching and management to research. This comprehensive framework aims to simplify complex tech applications for educators.
Among the innovative applications cited, the guidelines highlight the role of AI tutoring companions in planning learning paths, language assistants that enhance speaking and listening skills, personalized learning coaching, and VR tools that create immersive educational experiences. Emphasizing a “student-centered” approach, the guidelines encourage schools to leverage AI to support tailored learning experiences, fostering students’ independent learning capabilities and fostering creativity in various learning environments.
Regarding the empowerment of teaching through AI, the guidelines suggest that schools can provide intelligent teaching assistants for a range of applications such as smart course design, lesson preparation, personalized instruction, classroom management, grading, and learning analytics. This adoption aims to elevate the quality of education while alleviating the workload of teachers.
The guidelines also advise schools to utilize AI in creating diversified evaluation systems for both teachers and students, engage in practical explorations of AI applications in areas like intelligent reading, sports training, arts education, and personalized psychological support, and develop a new intelligent research ecosystem. Additionally, they encourage the use of AI to enhance campus-wide management through multimodal, panoramic, and dynamic approaches.
With a strong emphasis on “critical usage,” the guidelines outline standards to ensure that AI applications do not jeopardize national security, promote prohibited content, or contradict fundamental educational principles. They highlight the importance of understanding the risks and limitations of generative AI while safeguarding personal and sensitive information. The document stresses that minors should use AI tools only with parental or teacher guidance and calls for proactive efforts to address any issues of addiction or exposure to harmful AI products.
During the launch, Feng Hongrong, the President of the Beijing Academy of Educational Sciences, presented the guidelines, stressing the importance of top-level design and strategic foresight. He noted, “At the heart of education is the development of individuals, regardless of how technology evolves.”
Feng indicated that the guidelines were shaped by considering the impact of AI across different age groups, ensuring that the ultimate goal is to promote the healthy growth of students. He emphasized that AI should facilitate deeper thinking and enhance scientific discovery and innovation. Furthermore, the guidelines advocate for the critical use of AI, positioning the education sector as a leader in AI implementation. Proper use of AI can transform it into an enabler of educational innovation rather than a constraint on students’ thinking.
As a key part of the “Beijing Guidelines on the Application of Artificial Intelligence in Education,” the day also marked the launch of initiatives aimed at constructing high-quality data sets and AI testing grounds to enhance AI’s understanding of educational contexts. Li Yi, Deputy Secretary of the Beijing Committee of Education Workers and Director of the Education Committee, initiated these projects along with leaders from relevant organizations.
This new venture seeks to establish a data operation platform focused on education and develop a knowledge framework that incorporates educational characteristics within the Beijing data environment. The AI Testing Ground will simulate real-life scenarios for assessments, creating evaluation standards that align with educational practices, while regularly monitoring AI products’ performance in schools to foster a healthy and orderly application atmosphere.
