Pilot programme introduces AI Tutor Platform to primary schools

By Raysha M Purcell

Project Manager, CEBM

Artificial Intelligence (AI) as a tutor? The practical ways of teaching, as we know it, are steadily becoming revolutionary.

The Catholic Education Board of Management (CEBM) is very pleased with its extended partnership with WizdomCRM Caribbean Ltd beyond the Virtual Stock Market Game (VSMG) to facilitate the introduction of the AI Tutor Platform targeted towards primary schools in T&T.

WizdomCRM had promised to sponsor 300 Standard Two and Three students from among ten CEBM schools as a pilot programme. This was implemented over two school terms from January to July 2024.

The platform, approved by the Ministry of Education, aligns with the Ministry’s curriculum in the Caribbean, providing an engaging, personalised learning journey that goes beyond traditional textbooks. It represents a significant shift in teaching and learning methods, focusing on student-centred approach from any device in real time.

The platform features eight animated AI tutors, inclusive of Maven for Mathematics, Financial Literacy, and Bark Tutor for English, enhancing engagement and understanding for children as early as eight years of age.

Dr Discovery brings Science to life, fostering environmental stewardship. A noteworthy feature is enabling parents and teachers to conduct supervised learning sessions, tailor class content, and efficiently assess student performance through a comprehensive dashboard directly in the classroom or at the comfort of their home.

The benefits of the WizdomCRM AI Tutor Platform include enhanced student engagement and motivation, improved academic outcomes and increased confidence and self-esteem in students.

The ten RC schools that participated in the AI Tutor Platform were Belmont Boys’ RC, Toco RC, Mayaro RC, St Dominic’s RC (Morvant), Mt Lambert RC, Carapo RC, Erin RC, Caratal RC, Maracas RC and Caparo RC.

Though the promised number was 300, only a total of 194 students registered for the programme. The number of Standard Two and Three students in the schools and the children’s ability to interact with the platform were pertinent factors that affected the final number.

In preparation for the commencement of the Platform, WizdomCRM conducted school tours to sensitise principals, teachers, and students about the platform and for student registration.

To facilitate a smooth integration, a comprehensive online training session was provided for the teaching staff and continuous support was given throughout the implementation process.

Principal Carlene Hayes at Caratal RC found the school tour to be an interactive session as she witnessed the students signing into the AI platform. She expressed delightfully, “It was a great initiative to motivate our students to use the WizdomCRM platform today.”

Research evidenced by a case study report completed by UniDistance Suisse, in Switzerland, demonstrated that AI Tutor engagement led to a 15 per cent increase in academic performance. This further demonstrates the effectiveness in personalising learning and adapting to individual student needs by use of AI.

Therefore, teachers were required to input student performance for Term 1 (September – December 2023) for Maths, English, Social Studies, and Science. Term 1 September – December 2023 Students’ Subject Impact Report is a survey conducted to assist in determining students’ subjects results before using the AI Tutor Platform to be measured against their results after interacting with the platform.

During the third term, through discussions with Quality Assurance Manager Theresa Neblett-Skinner, 33 Samsung tablets were sponsored by WizdomCRM to the select RC primary schools. Eleven tablets have been distributed along with gift bags thus far; 22 tablets are still to be collected and distributed among the ten schools from WizdomCRM.

Erin RC has already collected their gift and expressed deep gratitude to WizdomCRM for sourcing these devices for the students and exclaimed “the children cannot wait to put them to use!”

The objective of this innovative educational tool is to enhance the performance of students and teachers using AI in the core academic subjects identified. Its design is to support students with self-directed learning; training children to ask clear questions to get the answers they want via interaction with the platform.

A teacher at Erin RC shared, “We, the principal, teachers, and I, were quite impressed with the speed at which they grasped the AI concept. I look forward to improved school performance using AI.”

The CEBM expresses sincere gratitude to WizdomCRM for its initiatives in partnering with the Board to continuously foster ways to enhance the academic performance of the students. The CEBM looks forward to improved evidence in school performance in primary schools through the support of the AI Tutor Platform.