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Local Germany
6 days ago
- Local Germany
EXPLAINED: How German schools are including more and more AI
AI products have been disrupting classrooms since they became publicly available. Since the release of ChatGPT – a chatbot that can write essays on command in German or English and many other languages in a matter of seconds – teachers have warned the tools are being abused by students. AI use among students is not only about 'cheating'. Experts have voiced concern that AI dependence is robbing young people of the chance to develop crucial skills for themselves. On the other hand, there are educators who insist that AI has a place in the classroom, and who argue that trying to ban or ignore the technology would be to fail to train students for the world in which we live. Here's a look at why some German schools are already bringing AI-powered tools into the classroom, and what it suggests about the future role of AI in education. 'A new era' A report in Tagesschau about a high school ( Gymnasium ) in Cologne which has embraced an in-class AI tool begins with the words: 'A new era has begun at Thusneldastraße…' The high school uses an AI program called 'Study Buddy', which is based on ChatGPT and designed to support students in the classroom. Students quoted in the report suggest that the tool is helpful: one notes that AI has endless patience for answering the same question in different ways to help them understand, another suggests they feel more engaged while interacting with the chatbot. But of course the tool still needs a fair amount of fine tuning. A mathematics teacher who uses the tool in her classroom noted that not all of the chatbot's answers are suitable for her students' level of understanding. Chatbots are also notorious for spitting out false answers. READ ALSO: What is Germany's digital pact for schools and how does it affect pupils? The Cologne high school says its staff assess and discuss where and when AI use makes sense in the classroom and where it would be counter productive. But the headmaster suggests that keeping up with the times is important: "Students use AI anyway…it's important to us they do it reflectively…in a way that promotes learning." Advertisement 'Telli' Meanwhile, the city-state of Bremen has announced plans to adopt the use of a particular AI tool in its schools state-wide. German tech news outlet Heise recently reported that schools in Bremen will make use of a specially designed chatbot called 'Telli', and that the tool will later be used in schools across the country. Telli is a large language model (LLM) similar to ChatGPT and other mainstream chatbots, but it differs from commercial AI products in its approach to data protection. Because Telli is hosted entirely in the European Union, it's possible to prevent personal data about its users from being transferred to other AI companies. Advertisement The system is also designed not to collect user data to train underlying models, and it allows teachers to upload documents so that students can get context-specific answers. Sascha Aulepp, Bremen's Senator for Children and Education told Heise , 'We want to prepare pupils for a future in which dealing with artificial intelligence will be a matter of course.' OPINION: German school grading is unfair on foreign students and it's maddening Not well regulated or understood While some schools strive to integrate AI in the classroom with care, the us of AI by students in Germany is not generally well monitored. A recent survey by Germany's digital association (Bitkom) found that less than a quarter of German schools have school-wide rules for the use of AI in lessons. The survey, which polled about 500 German students between the ages of 14 and 19, also found that nearly half of students said their teacher wouldn't notice if they used AI without permission for class assignments and that 29 percent assume they are better at using AI than their teachers. Advertisement That last finding appears to be backed up by research from the Robert Bosch Stiftung, which found that nearly two-thirds of teachers (62 percent) feel insecure in using AI tools like ChatGPT. READ ALSO: How to find mental health resources in Germany for children Advocating for more programs such as those being introduced in Bremen or at the Thusneldastraße high school in Cologne, researchers maintain that the use of AI can't effectively be banished – instead educators and students alike need training, they say. 'ChatGPT and similar applications have long been part of young people's lives,' Dagmar Wolf of the Robert Bosch Stiftung said in a press release, adding that 'systematic training…is the only way to enable pupils to deal with each other in a reflective and responsible manner.'
The Star
01-06-2025
- General
- The Star
Good homes not just for the rich
Proud moment: Chan receiving the valedictorian award from UCSI chancellor Tunku Zain Al-'Abidin. A PASSIONATE advocate for community architecture, sustainability and grassroots impact, Joanne Chan Wen Hui is on a mission to make life better for the marginalised. Addressing the Class of 2025 as valedictorian at UCSI University's first convocation ceremony of the year, Chan spoke about her mission to serve underprivileged rural communities through architecture. These families often have to live in environments that lack dignity and are poorly designed because they can't afford better, more comfortable spaces, she said. Good design should not be a luxury reserved only for the rich, she said, when delivering her speech at the varsity in Kuala Lumpur on May 10. That belief guided her tertiary education journey as she actively volunteered and contributed to various causes – serving people, communities and even animals over the past three and a half years at UCSI. In her first semester, Chan joined COLLAB, a student-led initiative advocating for architecture's civic responsibility. Through COLLAB, she helped build a kindergarten for refugee children. 'The children wanted to learn so badly despite their underprivileged circumstances. Seeing them affirmed my desire to use architecture to drive meaningful change for those in need,' she said. Since then, the aspiring architect has spent every semester break on COLLAB projects, including building affordable homes in remote highlands. She also collaborated with Paw's Eden, a local NGO and animal shelter housing over 200 stray cats and dogs. Through crowdfunding, she and her team raised over RM11,000 to customise wheelchairs for 20 mobility-impaired dogs. They also built a bamboo hut and improved the shelter's outdoor playground. Apart from dedicating herself to volunteer work, Chan also initiated the Study Buddy system to foster peer mentorship, cross-year collaboration and student-led workshops. She also served as president of Makelab, UCSI's architecture student society. 'My experiences as a student affirmed what I have always believed – that everyone deserves access to thoughtful, inclusive spaces. It is a necessity, not a privilege.' Driven by this ethos, Chan turned down higher-paying offers to work as an assistant architect at a local startup focused on sustainable and socially conscious design. She plans to pursue her master's degree, sit for the Lembaga Arkitek Malaysia III Examination and eventually establish her own firm to revitalise rural and educational spaces through culturally sensitive, sustainable design. Moved by Chan's choices and desire to make a change, UCSI vice-chancellor and president Emerita Prof Datuk Dr Siti Hamisah Tapsir said, 'I'm proud to share that today, she is doing the work she believes in.' The university's 38th convocation ceremony also marked the installation of Tunku Zain Al-'Abidin Tuanku Muhriz as UCSI's second chancellor, following his tenure as pro-chancellor since 2021. The ceremony celebrated the achievements of 898 graduates in the presence of UCSI University council chairman and founder Datuk Peter Ng and UCSI Healthcare Group chairman Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah.
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Business Standard
30-05-2025
- Business
- Business Standard
Thomas Cook teams up with Muthoot Forex for wider payments reach
Travel company Thomas Cook on Friday announced a strategic partnership with Muthoot Forex — the foreign exchange division of the Muthoot Group — to expand the reach of its Borderless Travel and Study Buddy cards. Through this collaboration, both prepaid forex cards will now be available across Muthoot's extensive network of over 7,000 branches, including 43 full-fledged forex branches across India's metros, mini-metros, and tier II to tier IV source markets, the travel company said in a release. 'Our alliance with The Muthoot Group leverages our powerful synergies — combining our expertise in travel and foreign exchange with Muthoot's extensive network across India's tier I to IV source markets,' said Deepesh Varma, Executive Vice President, Foreign Exchange, Thomas Cook India. 'Through this partnership, we aim to bring our Borderless Travel and Study Buddy cards closer to consumers across India's metros and regional markets, making international travel and study abroad even more convenient and accessible.'
Business Wire
05-05-2025
- Business
- Business Wire
Tyler Technologies Announces 2025 Maine App Challenge Winners
BUSINESS WIRE)-- Tyler Technologies, Inc. (NYSE: TYL) announced today the three winning teams of its annual Tyler Technologies Maine App Challenge. The contest provides Maine high school students with the opportunity to explore the world of software design and development by building a mobile application. 'We are proud to celebrate the outstanding talent of this year's Maine App Challenge winners,' said Chris Webster, president of Tyler's ERP & Civic Division. 'It's our hope that this recognition inspires them to pursue careers in STEM and make the most of this valuable scholarship. We're honored to continue supporting such bright and innovative students.' This year's winners are: First place: Eugene Irving Frost of Mountain Valley High School created Prospect: Re-Appraisal, an accessible, yet challenging game featuring original art and music. Second place: Everett Hurder of Gorham High School created StudyBuddy, an app integrated with Google Classroom to allow students to easily track their course progress. Third place: Oliver Emerson of Gorham High School created Investment Investigator, a personalized tool that suggests interest-bearing account investments. The winners received scholarships totaling $10,000 in 529 college savings plans, presented at Tyler's awards ceremony on May 3 at Tyler's Yarmouth, Maine, office. Tyler awarded $500 to Deering High School in Portland for having the most teams or individuals submitting an eligible entry. Tyler collaborated with the Foster Center for Innovation at the University of Maine to host a series of free workshops for students to help with brainstorming, prototyping, and testing their applications. Tyler also partnered with the University of Maine on its Fundamentals of Innovation (INV121) course available online to high school students as an early college course that allows them to earn college credits while designing an app submission for the Maine App Challenge. The Maine App Challenge introduces students to STEM-related disciplines and supports the notion that these students can excel in this field while remaining in Maine. Since its inception in 2015, the Maine App Challenge has gifted more than $110,000 in 529 college savings plans to students in Maine. For more information about the Maine App Challenge, please contact MACT@ About Tyler Technologies, Inc. Tyler Technologies (NYSE: TYL) is a leading provider of integrated software and technology services for the public sector. Tyler's end-to-end solutions empower local, state, and federal government entities to operate efficiently and transparently with residents and each other. By connecting data and processes across disparate systems, Tyler's solutions transform how clients turn actionable insights into opportunities and solutions for their communities. Tyler has more than 45,000 successful installations across 13,000 locations, with clients in all 50 states, Canada, the Caribbean, Australia, and other international locations. Tyler has been recognized numerous times for growth and innovation, including on Government Technology's GovTech 100 list. More information about Tyler Technologies, an S&P 500 company headquartered in Plano, Texas, can be found at #TYL_General
