Given the extensive impact of artificial intelligence (AI) across diverse sectors such as business, entertainment, social media, and manufacturing, it is only logical that the field of education follows suit. The education industry has already begun to use AI for various tasks, including online learning, assessments, a question bank, chatbots that answer questions, etc.
AI has shed its intimidating image and emerged as a genuinely approachable field. Implementing AI tools in classrooms is not only accessible but also highly beneficial for educators. With the advancement of AI technology, personalized learning experiences for students are now possible.
In this article, we will explore AI’s Promising prospects for education, illuminating its transformative impact on learning and teaching. Along with the opportunities it presents, AI may also bring challenges that need to be addressed.t may bring.
How is AI Transforming Education?
AI is transforming how education is delivered in two ways: through hyper-personalized learning experiences and automated assessment. AI systems can be employed to develop unique content for each student, identify knowledge gaps, and monitor each student’s development over the course of a program or course.
AI-based platforms can collect and analyze student data on the interaction with educational materials, exercise completion time, test results, and overall performance to understand students’ attitudes and needs.
AI tools can create customized training pathways based on this data and instantly adjust them based on the learner’s progress. For instance, if an AI-powered system notices a student is struggling to complete a particular task (such as tests and exercises), it can suggest additional reading.
Real-life applications
An excellent illustration of an AI-based learning platform with a smart bot integrated to interact with students is the language-learning program from Duolingo. Its well-known teacher/mascot is a happy but persistent green owl who encourages users to exercise every day.
The personalized learning approach used by Duolingo includes a preliminary positioning test to assess the user’s abilities and a progressive readjustment of the difficulty of the suggested activities based on prior performance and results obtained.
Another example is the educational platform StepWise, developed by the US-based Querium to enhance students’ understanding of STEM subjects. The platform uses AI-based analytics to gauge the student’s progress in a particular subject accurately and offers comprehensive tools, such as interactive lessons, adaptive quizzes, and real-time feedback, to ensure students stay engaged throughout their learning sessions.
Benefits of AI in Education
Integrating AI technology in education brings numerous benefits that enhance the learning experience for students and educators alike. Here are some key advantages of using AI in education
For students
In this new day and age, critical thinking, problem-solving, and creativity are playing an increasingly important role in our careers. By providing students with instant feedback on their work, AI allows them to identify patterns quickly and develop creative solutions, improving their self-educational skills.
For Educators
It is widely recognized that students learn more effectively when genuinely interested in the subject matter. By leveraging AI-generated insights, teachers can better understand students’ preferences and tailor their instructional approaches. This personalized approach demonstrates a genuine value for students’ interests and provides them with a sense of support and encouragement.
Challenges of AI in Education and Possible Solutions
A few issues and challenges that need to be resolved come with the enormous potential that AI integration in education also carries.
Data privacy concerns
AI applications rely on extensive data to operate effectively, which can compromise student information’s security and privacy.
To safeguard student data privacy, educational institutions should establish clear policies and implement robust procedures. These measures may include user authentication protocols, restricted access to sensitive information, and encryption of stored data.
Cost of implementation
Implementing AI-powered solutions can be expensive for schools due to the required hardware and software and the cost of teaching the staff how to use the technology.
For educational institutions looking to incorporate AI systems, using ready-made Software as a Service (SaaS) solutions can result in substantial cost savings compared to developing AI models from scratch. This approach is one of the most effective ways for schools to make AI implementation more affordable.
Conclusion
AI should not be used in place of human teachers but as an additional educational tool. A student’s development depends on the teacher-student relationship and the social-emotional component of learning.
Although AI can offer individualized guidance and support, balancing technology-driven learning and interpersonal interaction is paramount to fostering deep relationships between teachers and students. To maintain reality in an AI world, we need our human skills.
