Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology has been developing rapidly each year. Luger and Stubblefield (1993) stated that "AI comes with new features, functions, and appearances, increasingly impacting many aspects of human life, including education." The current development of AI technology allows it to be utilized in the implementation of distance learning. AI is considered capable of supporting students' skills in independent learning sessions.
Based on this phenomenon, the Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization Regional Open Learning Centre (SEAMEO SEAMOLEC) is also responding to the challenges of education that utilizes AI. In distance learning, AI will be utilized to act as a tutor for each student. To support this program, SEAMEO SEAMOLEC is organizing the Model for Improving the Quality of Distance Learning through the Utilization of Artificial Intelligence (AI) Technology.
This modeling program consists of several stages, namely preparation and arrangement, development of study tools and models, testing of study tools and models, as well as evaluation and reporting. Currently, the modeling program has reached the testing stage. For this reason, SEAMOLEC is organizing the "Workshop on Prototype Device Trial for AI Tools Utilization and Integration Model in SMA Labschool UPI Bandung". This activity aims to observe the implementation of the trial being carried out by the piloting school on the students.
The workshop was conducted from September 25 to 27, 2024, and was facilitated by two SEAMEO SEAMOLEC staff and one evaluator from the University of Education Indonesia. The
device being tested was a tool for English learning. The aspects assessed were the application design, learning functions, and application flowchart (functional testing), as well as usability (teaching needs, usefulness of each feature). Testing and review of the prototype were conducted directly and simultaneously with students of SMA Lab School UPI Cibiru, Bandung. The final results of the application design development trial will be used as material for the evaluation and finalization stage in the development of the model using prototypes of AI-based devices.