A young Bahraini teacher has programmed his very own artificial intelligence (AI) assistant for pupils so they don’t end up with false narratives from malign or speculative sources.
Mohammed Hashem, a Biology teacher at Naim Secondary Boys School, hopes his high-tech initiative will help his students enjoy studying and achieve higher scores in examinations too.
Speaking to the GDN, he explained that the idea for the programme emerged after repeatedly noticing how his students were using AI tools for their lessons, but were getting inaccurate information.
“Most of the answers they got were either wrong or inconsistent with the school curriculum,” the 26-year-old from Janusan said.
“So I began designing the Smart Assistant that provides information based on official and verified sources.
“The goal was to offer students accurate explanations, interactive exercises and personalised feedback that matched their level.
“I wanted it to be a supportive tool, not a replacement for teaching.”
Mr Hashem believes educators have little choice but to embrace AI technology despite many in his profession being hesitant to do so.
Surprisingly, although never studying programming academically he developed a ‘genuine passion’ for educational technology, and started experimenting with tools such as ChatGPT, Canva and Google Workspace and integrated them with his experience as an educator.
After working on the project in his own time over several weeks he developed a system for success. He went through several stages, starting with preparing content, then training the system to adopt an academic tone, and finally conducted trials with fellow instructors.
He learned by reading, experimenting, making mistakes and correcting them, until he finally built his comprehensive ‘Smart Assistant’ with the aim of serving both students and teachers.
After confirming its accuracy, he presented it to school principal Jamal Abdulwahab and tested it in one class before expanding it to all his biology classes.
“It operates as an interactive digital learning tool that students can communicate with either through text or voice,” he said. “It does not give random answers, instead it relies solely on official textbooks, approved notes and past examinations.
“Additionally, it can also generate practice questions, and adjusts them based on each student’s level.
“I also wanted to ensure that it provided instant feedback and motivated students while correcting their mistakes.”
Mr Hashem said that the response from the classroom have been ‘remarkably positive’, with some using it out of curiosity at first, which quickly became genuine enthusiasm.
“They started using it before class and after to reinforce their learning,” he said. “They have become more confident, better at expressing scientific ideas, and more engaged in discussions.
“Learning shifted from passive reception to active participation and students began recommending it to their peers.
“It was wonderful to see a renewed excitement for biology powered by technology!”
With their increased engagement and participation, Mr Hashem stated that the students have seen a ‘clear and measurable’ improvement in academic performance.
Students have shown better analytical skills in complex examination questions and have become better independent thinkers too.
Due to the success of the Smart Assistant, the programme is being slowly expanded to include other subjects such as Chemistry and Physics.
The school’s goal is now to ensure every scientific department has its own programme, and to become a pioneer in digital transformation in Bahrain.
Mr Hashem has urged teachers around Bahrain to not hesitate to integrate AI into education, and not see it as a replacement threat but rather as an enhancement to the learning experience.
“AI will never replace teachers,” he said. “It only highlights their importance even more, in my opinion. It is a supportive tool that can make teaching more effective and student-centred.
“I encourage all teachers’ to start with small steps and try, apply and observe the impact.
“The future waits for no one, it is our role as educators to lead it with awareness and confidence.”
nader@gdnmedia.bh
&uuid=(email))