Alexei Goreslavsky at the National Centre RUSSIA: a child should not be left alone in the digital environment

Artificial intelligence is opening up new opportunities for educational content: it can be used to create visual materials more quickly and explain complex topics through stories and game mechanics. However, neural networks will not replace traditional animation and works of art, while the digital environment should not become a space where a child is left alone with information. The Director General of the Internet Development Institute, Alexei Goreslavsky, discussed this at the National Centre RUSSIA during the panel session "The Teacher’s Role in Personal Development: Meanings and Tools". The event was held on 1 October as part of the VI Homeroom Teachers’ Forum and the I School Principals’ Forum.

According to Alexei Goreslavsky, digital content has already become part of the environment in which children are raised, alongside their families and schools. The task facing adults is therefore not to ignore new formats, but to help children engage with them thoughtfully, including by using technology for education and learning.

"We need to try to make content engaging and accessible. A new tool has emerged: AI-generated content. It will never replace genuine artistic or hand-drawn content, but it can be useful for animating simple examples and for teaching. It is faster and cheaper to produce and can illustrate processes. At present, AI-generated content plays a supporting role and will most likely continue to do so," noted Alexei Goreslavsky.

As an example, he presented the educational project "Paradoxiki", a series of short science videos for primary school children created using neural networks. According to Alexei Goreslavsky, such materials can help spark an interest in science when complex phenomena are explained through clear visual imagery and accessible stories. He also emphasised that the videos are reviewed by specialists in the relevant fields, who assess the accuracy of the facts and images.

The expert also highlighted the potential of video games as an educational tool. In his view, game mechanics make it possible to combine a child’s desire to compete and achieve results with learning objectives. As an example, he cited the "Smuta" project and its free educational modules, which allow users to explore historical locations and learn about the architecture and events of the Time of Troubles in an interactive format.

Discussing the digital environment, the head of the Internet Development Institute placed particular emphasis on experiencing content together. Watching and discussing videos, games and other materials with adults helps children not only acquire information, but also develop their own understanding of what they have seen. He also identified educational projects featuring characters familiar to children and game-based formats that help them explore art, history and other fields of knowledge as promising areas.

The panel session "The Teacher’s Role in Personal Development: Meanings and Tools" was held as part of the VI Homeroom Teachers’ Forum and the I School Principals’ Forum at the National Centre RUSSIA. The discussion also featured the First Vice-Rector of Moscow Pedagogical State University, Natalia Sklyarova; the Scientific Editor of the multimedia historical park "Russia — My History", Ivan Privalov; writer and Honoured Teacher of the Russian Federation Lilia Kandybovich; and the Deputy Director General of the State Russian Museum, Anna Tsvetkova. The discussion was moderated by the Deputy Director for Public Relations at the Chekhov Moscow Art Theatre, Vadim Vernik.