Addressing teacher shortages through AI-powered solutions: Recent experimental results from Latin America
About the presentation:
Effective policies to address issues of teacher shortage and distribution exist across Latin America, but they are costly and difficult to scale. This presentation first reviews the evidence on traditional incentives and behavioral nudges, then turns to our work using AI tools to meet these challenges through two approaches. We present results from a large-scale RCT on AI-powered counselors to increase teacher recruitment in Chile, and discuss ongoing experimental work on AI-powered mentors to support novice teacher retention in Chile and Peru. We conclude by reflecting on the promise and challenges of using AI to address teacher shortages at scale.
About Gregory:
Gregory Elacqua is Principal Education Economist at the Inter-American Development Bank in Washington, DC, where he has led the research and technical policy agenda for education across Latin America and the Caribbean for over 10 years. His research and policy work focuses on school finance and efficiency of spending, teacher policy, education decentralization, centralized student and teacher assignment, and using AI to scale education policies. Previously, he directed the Public Policy Institute at Universidad Diego Portales in Chile and served as senior advisor to three Ministers of Education and to the Education Committee of the Chilean Senate.
