As AI advances, human interaction will become even more important in the classroom.

Why Oracy will use AI as a benefit and not a hindrance
When we develop the ability to use Oracy with confidence and flair, it can become transformative as a human being. It lights up emotions, inspires confidence, and elevates how we feel about ourselves and how others see us. In addition, it changes how we relate to friends and peers.

Developing the ability to speak and listen effectively helps us with self-actualization. It makes us more confident as learners and empowers us to connect with others; it improves our mental well-being, self-belief, and self-worth.

It also enables us to communicate our needs and desires to others and to learn regardless of ability or previous subject knowledge.

What is Oracy?
Oracy involves spoken language and communication.
Cambridge has presented - a guide - the physical, linguistic, cognitive, social, and emotional dimensions of the Oracy Skills Framework.

In classrooms, learning through talk, thinking pair share, inquiry questions, debating, presenting, building dialogue, and questioning are strategies used by the teacher called 'dialogic teaching and learning.'
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In traditional classrooms, the dialogue is usually one-way - presentation of knowledge and minimal engagement emotionally - minimal Oracy.

Curriculum and AI
A curriculum is based on disciplinary subject knowledge, measured through subject-based exams where learners study the curriculum and teachers who have good subject knowledge present the subject matter clearly, promoting appropriate discussion while they are teaching so that learners develop knowledge and skills across the curriculum and, as a result, test and a result get good test or exam results.

Isn't this a perfect scenario for the robot? But is learning all about results? Or are we creating robots?

How will technological innovation impact the classroom?
I believe technology will not replace teachers but enhance classroom practice in ways we've never imagined and enable teachers to work with students like never before.

Education is a very human and personal endeavor...

So where does Oracy come into it?
Oracy is about developing a rich repertoire of knowledge and skills relating to spoken language and communication. 

It is far more than speaking and listening - for example, it involves the applications of knowledge, learning to speak in turn, how to carry your tone variation, and how to manage your time.

It also involves personalized modeling, guiding, practicing, and giving and receiving constructive feedback on actual performance. 

It helps develop strategies against anxiety- standing up at the front of the room and speaking, participating in a debate, and leading or chairing a meeting.

It helps students develop the skills to learn to speak and listen in a range of contexts.- it significantly impacts life skills, first impressions, being interviewed, making friends, working with others, being persuasive, and resolving or de-escalating conflicts - without using a Robot.

Human interaction will become even more important as machine learning and AI advance.
Bernard Marr, a world-renowned futurist, influencer, and thought leader in business and technology with a passion for using technology for the good of humanity, claims that "As machine learning and AI continue to advance, human interaction will become even more important. Only teachers can truly understand the nuances of what is happening in their students' minds in the classrooms."

Will Artificial Intelligence Replace Teachers?

While AI is becoming a valuable tool for educational professionals, there are many ways computers just can't replace the human touch in the classroom.

​An Oracy-based curriculum
An Oracy-based curriculum where the focus is on establishing the reason for speaking and listening to students in developing their confidence to positively impacts all aspects of their life:
Convincing them that it is important to develop skills to:

• confidently speak to a large audience,
• make small talk with people you have never met before,
• listening to people and making them feel listened to and understood, and valued,
• actively take part in debates, conversations, and arguments with confidence.

The benefits of Oracy go far beyond academic achievement - they boost a range of social, emotional, and interpersonal skills, including self-confidence, self-awareness, resilience, and empathy.

Simply put, Oracy is to speak what numeracy is to mathematics or literacy to reading and writing.

In short, it is about being able to express yourself and having the vocabulary to say what you want to say, the ability to structure your thoughts and make sure they make sense to others using empathy to change the way you communicate, taking into consideration the listeners engagement,

Oracy and AI?
What do you think?
Can AI improve Oracy in the classroom?
Will Robots ever replace teachers?

By Tassos Anastasiades