Project R-13664

Efficient student support through smart signaling function (Research)

Our secondary schools have the task of preparing students for their future. A task not to be underestimated in a society that is changing rapidly. Monitoring the learning performance and well-being of pupils is essential in this respect. This monitoring is a complex task in which action is often only taken when problems escalate. By alerting schools early on about possible difficulties with a pupil, worse is prevented. With the data available in Smartschool, this project, in collaboration with pupils, parents and education professionals, and reinforced by Cegeka's expertise, wants to use AI techniques to build a supporting signal function that informs teachers at an early stage. This allows a teacher or student supervisor to autonomously take the decision to intervene proactively based on the information displayed. We see this functionality as a tool for teachers who want to monitor all their students despite their filled assignment. We pay special attention to ethics, discretion and privacy when developing the solution. For example, UHasselt's expertise guides the ethical choices that are made and GO! provides our schools, in a cross-domain manner, with practical instructions for responsible and supported use of the smart signal. Smartschool's independent advisory board (OAS) of experts from the Flemish educational landscape also came up with a supported recommendation that we take into account. Besides boosting learning performance and well-being, the smart signal has other positive effects. For instance, a pupil who is helped more quickly ultimately requires less guidance. Something that benefits the current teacher shortage. When learning itself appears to be the problem, appropriate guidance can be looked at earlier. In short, we see only advantages in adding such an early smart signal to the toolbox of teachers.

01 January 2023 - 31 December 2024