Are you ready to cook, clean or grow plants? Starting from September, students in primary and middle school will have a new class—the labour (劳动) class. They will have at least one labour class a week. They will try different kinds of labour and learn different life skills.

Labour education can help people to be active, creative (有创造力的) and happy in life. Through such classes, students can learn the meaning of labour and its value.

Also, some schools already have interesting labour classes. Kids from a school in Chongqing have a class about catching loaches (泥鳅) in the river and learn about their habits (习性). In Fenyi county, Jiangxi, kids make tofu with a millstone (磨盘). They also taste (品尝) tofu made by themselves.” We learn about the wisdom (智慧) and hard work of our ancestors (祖先),” says Lin Boxuan, a fifth grader.

Some kids also keep small animals at home, like chickens. They learn how baby chickens are born and take care of them.

It was the last day of the final examination(考试)in a college. On the steps of building, a group of engineering students were waiting for the last exam. On their faces was confidence(自信).

They knew the exam would be easy. The professor(教授) had said they could bring any books or notes during the test.

Right after they came into the classroom. The professor handed out the papers. There were only five questions on it.

Three hours passed. Then the professor began to collect the papers. The students no longer looked confident. On their faces was nervous expression. The professor watched the worried faces before him, and then asked. “How many of you have completed all five questions?” No hand was raised. “How many of you have answered four?” Still no hands. “Three? Two?” The students moved restlessly in their seats. “One, then? Certainly somebody has finished one.” But the class kept silent(沉默). The professor said, “That is exactly what I expected(期盼). I just want to make you know clearly that even though you have completed four years of engineering, there are still many things about the subject you don’t know. These questions you could not answer are common in everyday practice.” Then, smiling, he added, “You will all pass this course, your education has just begun.”

The years have______the name of this professor, but not the lesson he taught.

Don’t doubt it: Machine learning is getting hotter. Artificial Intelligence (人工智能AI) is increasingly used in the classroom teaching of primary and secondary schools.

What does it look like in the classroom?

The school has a special learning system called Focus. Teachers put their teaching materials like textbooks and PPTs (幻灯片) on it. When they have classes, students enter the system and download (下载) the materials with their iPads. It makes the classes interesting and efficient (高效的). Zhu Jiefeng, a math teacher at Hangzhou No. 9 middle school, said, “We have been studying square root (平方根) during this period of time. Through analysis (分析) of students’ homework exercises, I found that there are still some problems with the students, then I know how to help them.”

In the class, for every question raised by the teacher, every student can answer it online. This increases participation (参与) for students.

Pan Jing Wen, a geography teacher said, “the teaching of liberal arts (文科), besides knowledge, may also need to tell some stories, some feelings. For example, a few weeks ago, we learned about London in the UK. I prepared a video in which students saw many places of interest in London. Students are more active in class.”

However, the key to use iPads well is to have good self-control. Otherwise, some students may do something which has nothing to do with study.

Will AI replace the teachers? Will AI help teachers free up their time so they can be “guides” for the students?