Like many of you, I have spent the last few years zipping through virtual shopping aisles, randomly and enthusiastically selecting AI tools and applying them with unfettered abandon. While it has been a delightful and exploratory journey, I must confess that not every moment was productive. Entire mornings have slipped by as I generated endless iterations of the same piece of writing. Note to readers: this is not an AI-assisted piece.
On the other hand, as a parent and a Principal, I have always been mindful of the impact of technology (including social media and AI) on today’s children.
As a lifelong learner and passionate teacher, I have discussed how we navigate the integration of AI and its potential to transform the way we learn and teach. To read more, visit our scgs.qld.edu.au
The negative effects of technology, social media and screen time on children’s physical wellbeing, mental health and eyesight are well-documented. In response, many States and schooling sectors are creating policies that limit access to smartphones during school hours. If you want to know the answer to “What’s hot in 2025?” the answer might surprise you:– the Nokia 3210! Unkindly referred to as a dumbphone, the Nokia 3210 has several great features that support communication but limit social media access. This humble retro-phone has come out of retirement and its strong resurgence has made me consider investing in the company (there’s an AI tool for that too).
As children return to school and spend more time in classrooms and on screens, their overall well-being must be a priority. Let’s preserve that summertime feeling by encouraging outdoor activities, regular physical exercise, and face-to-face social interactions. Setting clear boundaries for screen time outside school hours is equally important. Not all homework needs to be completed in front of a laptop. Together, parents and schools can build balanced routines that include time for learning, leisure, reading, family connection, and unstructured fun.
Your children will not be greeted by a robot next week
AI has boundless potential in education, offering benefits like personalised learning, adapting to students’ individual needs, and providing additional support and automated administrative tasks. However, while AI enhances classroom practice, it doesn’t replace the essence of education: the human connection. Teachers set the tone, cultivate a sense of belonging and insist on civility, ethics and values. Through these efforts, they deliver the ‘secret sauce’ of education and the power of learning through conversation.
Learning is, at its core, a social endeavour. The richest and most transformative learning experiences occur through real-world interaction and meaningful human connections.
I wish you and your child/ren a wonderful and exciting learning journey in 2025!
The article was also featured in My Weekly Preview on 23 January 2025 (page 28).
Anna Owen
Principal
Join us at our first Open Day for 2025 on Thursday 6 February.
As we expand our state-of-the-art facilities, we are excited to announce additional places for Year 4, 5 and 6 in 2026. This is a rare and exceptional opportunity made possible by the completion of our final phase of the Primary Precinct. Register your interest today and discover your future at Sunshine Coast Grammar School
