Supporting wellbeing using AI in the classroom

Charlotte Guest
A class of children with tablets standing and talking
Reading time: 3.5 minutes

According to , 2012 students with higher levels of emotional, behavioral, social, and school wellbeing, on average, have higher levels of academic achievement and are more engaged in school. It’s no wonder that fostering wellbeing in the classroom has become a priority for educators. The rise of technology brings up new challenges and issues, but with AI, there are now innovative ways to support student wellbeing like never before.

In this guide, we’ll explore how AI can be a powerful ally in promoting learner wellbeing. From suggesting wellbeing exercises to providing personalised support, AI offers a variety of tools that can help you create a more supportive and engaging learning environment.Ìý

Understanding learner wellbeing

Learner wellbeing encompasses the emotional, social, and academic dimensions of a student's life. It involves feeling safe, supported, and engaged in the learning process, as well as fostering positive relationships with peers and teachers.Ìý

Wellbeing is interconnected with various aspects of an individual's life, whether educational or otherwise, and applies to everyone, regardless of their background. Research indicates that the connections between emotional, behavioral, social, and academic wellbeing, are generally consistent for children and adolescents (Gutman & Vorhaus, 2012).

Promoting wellbeing is crucial for student success and holistic development. When learners feel positive about themselves and their surroundings, they are more likely to engage actively in class, achieve better academic results, and cultivate strong social skills. However, the constant stimulation from social media and entertainment can affect students' overall wellbeing. Ìý

How AI Supports wellbeing in the classroom

AI can play an important role in supporting learner wellbeing by providing insights and tools that help teachers address their students' needs. Over AI might negatively impact mental health, but only a quarter of learners agree.

Integrating AI into classroom practices can be straightforward. ere are numerous ways to incorporate technology that supports student wellbeing.

AI for mental health support

Mindfulness and stress management apps

AI can guide students in mindfulness practices and stress reduction, helping them develop healthy coping mechanisms.Ìý

Social and emotional learning (SEL) programs

AI-powered programs enhance social and emotional learning by providing interactive activities and personalized feedback.

Empathy and compassion training

AI tools help students develop empathy and compassion, fostering a more inclusive and supportive classroom environment.

Ethical considerations

Privacy and data security

Protecting student data and ensuring privacy are paramount when using AI in the classroom. Always choose tools that comply with data protection regulations and have robust security measures in place.

Bias and fairness

Address potential biases in AI algorithms and strive for equitable practices. Ensure that AI tools are designed and tested to avoid reinforcing existing biases.

Teacher oversight

Human oversight is crucial in AI applications to ensure ethical use. Teachers must be actively involved in monitoring and interpreting AI-generated data.

Practical tips for teachers

Choosing the right tools

Select AI tools that align with your educational goals and support student wellbeing. Look for features such as real-time monitoring, personalized feedback, and data security.

Integrating AI into daily practice

Seamlessly integrate AI tools into your classroom routines. Start with small steps, such as using an AI-powered app for mindfulness sessions, and gradually expand as you become more comfortable with the technology.

Professional development

Stay informed about AI and wellbeing through professional development opportunities. Attend workshops, join online communities, and read up on the latest research to enhance your understanding and skills.Ìý

Keeping up to date

AI offers a range of tools that can help you create a more supportive and engaging environment for your students. Explore our webinar on 'Building confidence in AI skills for English language teaching' and Billie Jago's AI series on .Ìý

We encourage you to explore AI tools and consider their potential benefits for student wellbeing. By integrating AI into your teaching practice, you can enhance your students' overall experience and foster a positive learning environment.

References

Gutman & Vorhaus (2012), The Impact of Pupil Behaviour and Wellbeing on Educational Outcomes.

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    6 tips for planning your first English classes

    By Nicole Kyriacou

    You are nervous, yet excited. You want to appear relaxed and fun, but still be taken seriously. Most of all, you are keen to make an excellent first impression.

    With all that in mind - planning your first English classes of the year can be a daunting experience.

    Here are six things to consider when planning your first classes:

    1. Set clear aims

    Whether you are teaching young learners, teenagers or adults, it’s important you discuss the aims and objectives of the course from day one. You’ll need to learn more about your students' needs to do this. Why are they learning English? Do they want to prepare for an official exam? What activities do they enjoy? What things do they need to improve the most?

    The way you do this will depend on the age of your learners. For example, with adults and teens, you could get them to interview each other and write a report about what they found out. With younger children, do a survey they can complete using smiley faces.

    2. Find out students’ interests

    Although you should understand your students' needs and why they want to learn English - to help make your classes relevant and engaging - you should also discover what they enjoy doing outside of class.

    To do this, get students to write mini bios you can stick around the classroom. Or have them prepare presentations where they share something they are passionate about with the rest of the class - using coursebooks. As a class, go through the contents page, vote on which topics students find most interesting, and start with those.

    3. Break the ice

    You want your first class to be fun so that students are motivated, and associate English language learning with something they can enjoy. Ice-breakers can also be an excellent way to get to know each other and learn about your students' current level of English.

    Activities where students have to ask each other questions work well.

    4. Provide a comfortable environment

    Young learners and teenagers tend to be shy at the start of a course - especially if they don’t know each other. Develop a rapport and break down boundaries by including team-building activities in your first class.ÌýYour aim is to have all the students feeling more comfortable with each other before the end of the lesson so that there are no awkward silences in future lessons.

    5. Manage expectations

    Managing expectations is an essential part of a teacher's job. Make sure in the first class you are clear about what you expect from your students and what they can expect from you.

    Have students brainstorm the rules for the class and then make a big poster or ‘class contract’ which all students have to sign. Display the poster on the wall so you can always refer to it if someone misbehaves.

    Try to keep the rules as positive as possible. Instead of writing: 'Don’t speak your first language', write: 'Try to always speak English and ask if you don’t know a word'. If you are feeling really brave, you can even get your students to devise a list of rules for you which you can display on the wall next to theirs.

    6. Make it challenging

    It’s great making your first lesson fun - but there’s nothing more motivating than leaving a new class and feeling like you’ve made a good decision and you are going to learn lots (and you aren’t wasting your time or money). This is especially important for adult learners.

    So, as well as getting to know each other and finding out their needs, teach them something new. This could be 10 new pieces of vocabulary, how to structure a letter or report, or a list of resources they can use at home to practice their English.