Field notes

Beijing school uses AI to keep an eye on pupils

Aim is to modify teaching methods based on how pupils react in class, amid govt push for more IT use in schools

Liangxiang No. 4 Elementary School in Beijing is one of the first in the city to install Edubrain, an artificial intelligence system that uses facial and voice recognition to check if students are paying attention in class.
Liangxiang No. 4 Elementary School pupils gathering for morning assembly. The school is one of about 20 in China that uses the Edubrain AI system. The AI system uses facial recognition technology to check if pupils look happy, sad or have a neutral e
Liangxiang No. 4 Elementary School pupils gathering for morning assembly. The school is one of about 20 in China that uses the Edubrain AI system. ST PHOTO: DANSON CHEONG
Liangxiang No. 4 Elementary School pupils gathering for morning assembly. The school is one of about 20 in China that uses the Edubrain AI system. The AI system uses facial recognition technology to check if pupils look happy, sad or have a neutral e
Two of the school's classrooms have cameras - one at the back of the classroom and the other perched above the blackboard. The AI system consists of a back-end server linked to the cameras and microphones. ST PHOTO: DANSON CHEONG
Liangxiang No. 4 Elementary School pupils gathering for morning assembly. The school is one of about 20 in China that uses the Edubrain AI system. The AI system uses facial recognition technology to check if pupils look happy, sad or have a neutral e
Two of the school's classrooms have cameras - one at the back of the classroom and the other perched above the blackboard. The AI system consists of a back-end server linked to the cameras and microphones. ST PHOTO: DANSON CHEONG
Liangxiang No. 4 Elementary School pupils gathering for morning assembly. The school is one of about 20 in China that uses the Edubrain AI system. The AI system uses facial recognition technology to check if pupils look happy, sad or have a neutral e
Two of the school's classrooms have cameras - one at the back of the classroom and the other perched above the blackboard. The AI system consists of a back-end server linked to the cameras and microphones. ST PHOTO: DANSON CHEONG
Liangxiang No. 4 Elementary School pupils gathering for morning assembly. The school is one of about 20 in China that uses the Edubrain AI system. The AI system uses facial recognition technology to check if pupils look happy, sad or have a neutral e
The AI system uses facial recognition technology to check if pupils look happy, sad or have a neutral expression. The system also takes note of their behaviour, head position, gestures and gaze. PHOTO: QINGFAN TECHNOLOGY
Danson Cheong China Correspondent In Beijing
Updated
Jan 03, 2019, 12:52 PM
Published
Dec 29, 2018, 05:00 AM
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The hallways are filled with the sound of pupils singing and reciting from Chinese texts during a recent visit one weekday morning to Liangxiang No. 4 Elementary School in Beijing.

In music and language classes, it is not just teachers who keep an eye on the children - two classrooms were recently fitted with an artificial intelligence (AI) system that keeps watch on how pupils behave and react to lessons in class.

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A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on December 29, 2018, with the headline Beijing school uses AI to keep an eye on pupils . Subscribe

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