Chapter 6: Tools in Schools

In this chapter, we summarize a broad literature that documents generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) and its transformative impacts on society generally, and schooling in particular. This is not a usual PhD thesis literature review. It is intended for teachers, principals, policymakers, and parents who may be interested in the literature analyzing the GenAI revolution. GenAI is an emerging area of study for scholars. We begin this chapter with key aspects of the transformative impacts of GenAI on society as presented in the literature. Next, we present the history of technological advances in schooling. We then summarize what GenAI is, its roots in the evolution of technologies in schooling, and showcase the opportunities and challenges presented by GenAI. We follow with a section on the implications of GenAI for early childhood education. Then we discuss the implications from the relevant literature for stakeholders who share responsibilities for the ultimate implementation of GenAI in future schooling. We conclude the chapter with short background statements about some of the most popular GenAI tools transforming schooling available at the time of writing this book.