NOVOSIBIRSK STATE PEDAGOGICAL UNIVERSITY
Konstantin Vladimirovich Rozov, a senior lecturer in the Department of Information Systems and Digital Education at IFMITO NSPU, has been awarded a Candidate of Pedagogical Sciences degree after successfully defending his dissertation titled “Methodology for Preparing Future Computer Science Teachers to Utilise Artificial Intelligence Technologies”. His academic supervisor of his postgraduate studies was Professor Maria Alekseevna Abramova, a Doctor of Pedagogical Sciences. On February 6, the Higher Attestation Commission issued an order to grant him the Candidate of Sciences diploma, following the defence, which took place on October 10, 2024, at the Institute of Space and Information Technologies of the Siberian Federal University in Krasnoyarsk.
The researcher highlights that the educational community should thoroughly examine the challenges associated with using artificial intelligence in order to teach schoolchildren and students how to use AI intelligently and integrate it into the study of Computer science. To achieve this goal, it is essential to regularly update educational materials on AI, as they quickly become outdated due to the rapid advancement of these technologies. Additionally, there should be a stronger emphasis on encouraging students to tackle practical problems through programming.
- We suggest exploring AI through a series of laboratory and practical tasks, each serving as a mini-project aimed at developing a software product designed to address specific real-life issues. This approach will provide students with a clearer understanding of how and why AI can be beneficial in various fields. If they are interested, they will have the opportunity to expand these mini-projects into coursework, dissertations, or even their own startups. The process will culminate in presenting their projects to the audience, - explains Konstantin Vladimirovich.
According to the teacher, this method of project assessment has become particularly pertinent due to the rise of text and code generation services powered by large language models (such as ChatGPT, GigaChat, Copilot, DeepSeek, and others), which can create programmes for students when addressing minor problems. In this context, it is crucial to evaluate the student’s level of critical thinking, their understanding of what their programme actually does, the limitations of the technology used, and how the product can be enhanced. This approach is effective for both students and schoolchildren, with the only difference being the complexity of the material presented.
According to the researcher, he has compiled his own practical experience from the past seven years in his dissertation. Since 2018, Konstantin Vladimirovich Rozov has been teaching the subjects “Languages and Methods of Artificial Intelligence” and “Artificial Intelligence Technologies”. This is noteworthy considering that seven years ago, this field of study was not particularly relevant in the professional training of future teachers and the education of schoolchildren.
- Computer vision, natural language processing, machine learning, and neural networks were just beginning to gain traction in the form we study them today. To prepare my initial laboratories on these and several other topics, I needed to learn Python. I had a sense that this field would “take off” in the near future, and it turned out that after a couple of years, the teaching community began to consider updating the curriculum in my subject area. Now, everyone is aware of the potential of artificial intelligence, and the topics I started exploring in 2018 are now being taught in schools and universities, - explains the teacher.
We frequently hear debates about whether the advancement of artificial intelligence brings more advantages or disadvantages to humanity. Konstantin Vladimirovich is convinced that the benefits will ultimately outweigh the harms.
- Any breakthrough technology is created for the benefit of humanity. AI enables the rapid completion of routine tasks that would otherwise consume human time. While AI can sometimes provide unnecessary assistance to individuals, including their studies, it is the teacher's responsibility to monitor how students and schoolchildren approach their assignments and whether they are using AI in the process. Recommendations are currently being developed regarding what educational tasks should be designed so that they can only be accomplished with human involvement. Ultimately, no machine can replace a person in intellectual work, especially, in creative self-expression, - states the Candidate of Pedagogical Sciences.
