AI and Marking: A Radical Change?
The New Zealand government has recently set off a lively debate by proposing to outsource much of the marking of NCEA assessments to artificial intelligence (AI). Education Minister Erica Stanford argues that this would ease teacher workload, speed up assessment cycles, and make major reforms to NCEA possible. In her words, New Zealand is already “world-leading” in using AI for marking and digital exams. At first glance, the promise is enticing. I often work late into the night marking piles of assessments. If an algorithm could shoulder this load while maintaining fairness, perhaps it would free teachers to focus on planning lessons, mentoring students, and reclaiming their evenings. Yet as with any bold innovation, the risks are as significant as the benefits, and the proposal deserves careful scrutiny, particularly when viewed through the values of Te Ao Māori which underpin education in New Zealand and the central role of relationships in education. What’s on the ...