Over the last few decades, technology has transformed medicine in ways that once seemed unimaginable. Genetic testing, AI-driven diagnostics, and advances in imaging allow doctors to diagnose and treat diseases with precision and personalization. It’s not just medicine. Agriculture, transportation and logistics, retail – even Hollywood – have been transformed by technology and data analytics. However, one sector critical to America’s success has yet to undergo a tech-driven transformation: education.
The nation needs to flip this script. Modernizing America’s education system and turning it into a driver of 21st-century opportunity will only happen by making bold new bets that harness the long-term source of American innovation – science and technology. The country is closer than you might think. What’s needed is a concerted effort from government, private industry, and philanthropy to push us over the finish line.
AI-powered tools offer unprecedented possibilities for personalized learning, individualized coaching, and real-time feedback allowing educators to tailor their instruction to meet the needs of each student. This kind of targeted support has the potential to close learning gaps and help educators move beyond the one-size-fits-all model and deliver a more dynamic, responsive educational experience.
Renaissance Philanthropy, with support from the Walton Family Foundation, recently issued a call to academics, teachers, and edtech developers to hear their big ideas on how AI and other emerging technologies could transform American schools so that they work for all students, everywhere. The call for ideas closed earlier this fall and had more than 350 submissions. Their ideas highlight the potential of learning science paired with emerging technologies to – at scale – personalize learning, automate bureaucratic school paperwork, and provide immersive learning opportunities.
Among the submissions, there were many ideas about how automation tools can alleviate the administrative burdens placed on teachers. By streamlining tasks such as grading, lesson planning, and managing student data, teachers can focus on what truly matters: teaching. In this scenario, everybody wins. Students get the support they need to reach their potential. Teachers get to do what they’re best at – teach – and may be less likely to burn out.
High-fidelity immersive learning technologies like augmented reality and virtual reality have the potential to become much cheaper to make and extend to a range of projects, particularly in STEM subjects. These tools can provide hands-on, experiential learning opportunities that make abstract concepts more accessible and engaging, particularly for STEM subjects. Immersive technologies offer students a chance to explore, experiment, and engage in ways traditional classrooms often can’t, making them a powerful tool for enhancing student interest and achievement in STEM fields.
These are just a few examples – and emblematic of a few capability curves that the education community should strive to harness. Much as SpaceX revitalized commercial space by using technology to rapidly reduce the cost of launch, and created a platform for iterative experimentation, education can do the same. First, as the costs of these advanced technologies like AI decrease while their capabilities keep increasing, they have the potential to take on tasks in education that are wildly expensive and time-consuming - like assessment. They can make well-researched strategies, like one-on-one tutoring, increasingly accessible to a broader range of schools, including those in under-resourced communities. Second, these technologies can serve as testbeds for rapid experimentation and continued advancements in the science and engineering of learning. For example, a program from Carnegie Mellon University called PLUS – Personalized Learning Squared – uses a combination of live tutors and an AI-powered learning platform to personalize math instruction and provide teachers with real-time data they can use to address their students’ learning gaps.
The PLUS program is being used in 13 schools across four states, benefiting approximately 2,800 middle school students. Studies show that students using the platform can double their pace of learning in math. Over 85 percent of the students engaged with PLUS come from low-income families. The big opportunity we have: how can new technologies help reliably take that program from 2,800 students to 10 million?
That’s the type of question the nation needs to answer.
The challenges in education today are daunting, but the opportunities are equally immense. Advanced technologies offer powerful solutions that may just transform how we teach and learn. But they do require strategic investments. Leaders in science, technology, and education – partnering with philanthropy – are well-suited to play that role. In a world where technology touches every aspect of our lives and the skills needed to thrive keep changing, now is the time to ensure it also shapes the future of education for the better. A complete report on Renaissance’s findings can be found on our website.
Kumar Garg is the President of Renaissance Philanthropy.
