Artificial Intelligence in Education
As technology and digitization cover the world, artificial intelligence (AI) in education acts as a tool, giving a symphony of sights, sounds, and experiences that gently hit the right direction of understanding. This sector has received even more tremendous response ever since COVID hit and has drawn investments and funding from worldwide. Education is now not limited to one classroom or any geographical barriers left. Assisting students through their skills, this adaptive nature of A has helped students to learn at their comfort and pace. AI has provided a plethora of information to students, nurturing them as per their thirst for understanding.
It enriches one’s brain with many insights and knowledge, guiding one in the right direction and correct visualizations. The traditional teaching method has been replaced by personalized learning experiences catering to individual students’ needs. The adaptive learning processes, intelligent tutoring systems, and analysis of students’ performance all have been supported by Artificial Intelligence. This analysis can help them progress at their own pace, per their feedback and experiences. AI in education technology has established strong players like Google, IBM, Wipro, and Microsoft. Startups like Duolingo, Coursera, and KNewton are the most searched and referred sites for personalized learning. These companies anchor AI to develop adaptive learning platforms, virtual tutors, and personalized learning experiences. The new technologies have enabled teachers to automate administrative tasks, organize course content, grade assignments, and much more. The learning outcomes have drastically improved with the help of artificial intelligence in Education. This has promoted a lot of innovations in teaching practices. An impact has been seen on replacing traditional assistive tools with AI-assisted teaching tools, as confirmed by 87% of visually impaired adults. – UNESCO reports [1].
“Our intelligence is what makes us human, and AI is an extension of that quality.” –Yann Le Cun.
Exploring how AI is reshaping and enhancing Education
AI is reshaping and enhancing Education in several ways:
- Personalized Learning and Intelligent Tutoring System: Adaptive learning platforms have provided a personalized learning experience to students so that they can better understand concepts at their productive speed through the feedback provided by the students. AI algorithms analyze the data and provide personalized learning experiences to each one. Chatbots can provide extra explanations for specific topics or exercises to reinforce learning.
- Automation of Administrative Tasks and Data-Driven Insights: Grading assessments, scheduling classes, and organizing exams have become a lot easier with the help of AI automating tools, allowing teachers to have great insights into the students’ performance, learning trends, etc. This allows teachers to take appropriate steps to improve their teaching processes further.
- Enhanced Collaboration and Engagement: Online forums and virtual classrooms have led to collaboration amongst students and mentors around the globe and have resulted in active participation in competitions, hackathons, projects, and other researchers through remote and hybrid learning environments.
- Accessibility and Inclusion: AI in Education has opened options like providing content and notes in audio and videos and converting the videos into text format for specially-able students worldwide. AI has removed all language barriers to teaching, hence improving the accessibility of information to all.
- Innovative Teaching Methods: Gamification, simulations, and virtual reality technology have enabled teachers and educators to experiment with their teaching methodologies and improve students’ engagement in the courses.
Development of AI in Education – History
The origin of AI in education dates to the 1960s, when computer programs were used to teach subjects such as Mathematics and Language. A notable invention was PLATO (Programmed Logic for Automated Teaching Operations) [2], which provided computerized instructions in various subjects. The intelligent tutoring system saw a rise in the 1980s, and it used AI approaches to provide personalized learning experiences and take feedback from the students to improve the systems. Artificial intelligence came into light when it started developing expert systems that could help improve human decision-making abilities. It began to be implemented in educational settings in the 1990s. They were used to performing tasks such as advising students to select a particular course and plan their careers.
The increased use of the internet and web-based technologies led to the development of AI-powered educational platforms and tools. This became a part of the Learning Management Systems (LMS). These were used to deliver the content, develop a personalized teaching experience, and ease the assessment process. In 2010, a shift towards Adaptive learning technologies was seen, which used AI technologies to personalize the learning experiences and intended to improve the student KNewton and Smart Sparrow gained a lot of popularity during this period. MOOCs (Massive Open Online Courses) emerged as another form of online Education in the 2010s, offering courses from various top universities and providing them to a global audience. It was integrated with artificial intelligence to increase students’ engagement, assess learning outcomes, and have personalized recommendations depending on the feedback provided by the students.
Technological Advancements Enabling AI Integration in Educational Settings
Advancements in technology play a significant role in integrating AI into the education system. Technologies like Big Data and Analytics, Natural Language Processing, Machine Learning, Computer Vision, and Cloud Computing have all significantly established the amalgamation of artificial intelligence and Education. The data analysis of students through the digital learning platform has helped teachers extract valuable insights to enable students to have personalized learning experiences and help them in decision-making. The use of NLP has improved and increased interactions between humans and computers. Chatt boards, virtual assistance, and many more, equipped with natural language capabilities, can help answer the students’ questions and facilitate a personalized learning experience. With machine learning and computer versions, augmented reality is developed. Virtual reality applications have increased student engagement in virtual learning environments and analyzed student performance data. Technologies like cloud computing have provided scalable and accessible resource options all over the globe, making it easier to deliver content to students across different devices and locations. Not to forget, the development of Generative AI applications like ChatGPT has added a personalized way of learning and exploring the courses in one’s style. Around 13% of US teens use ChatGPT for their school-related work, as per reports of the PEW Research Center [3].
Key Players in AI Education Technology
Various key players are innovating and shaping the landscape of artificial intelligence in Education for significant growth. Some of them are:
- Google: Needless to say, Google has always been a technology giant worldwide. Google has been investing actively in artificial intelligence (AI) for education. Google AI education initiative has libraries of all the AI experiments, courses, and guides to help the trainers and the learners understand and apply AI concepts.
- Microsoft: Microsoft provides resources for individuals who want to pursue their career in artificial intelligence with the help of their Microsoft AI school program. [4]
- IBM: IBM focuses on providing innovative solutions that can be used in the long term based on research investigations and technical capabilities using AI applications.
- Baidu: Baidu is one of the major players in China who invest in AI technology. They majorly invest in AI to provide personalized learning virtual assistance and other approaches that can help achieve educational outcomes. It holds the most significant patent on AI worldwide.
- Pearson, McGraw Hill, Cengage, and Knewton: These content providers are the pioneers in developing solutions for higher education that implement artificial intelligence to give students a personalized learning experience.
Though AI has started playing a significant role in Education, particular challenges and ethical issues must be considered; while developing AI technology, one must consider data privacy, student surveillance, autonomy, and consent. Also, adequate teacher training is required to integrate AI into Education, allowing teachers to be more adaptable and free to use AI in Education. This collaboration between AI and education will fill the learning gaps and enable teachers and students to explore more.
References:
[1] 2023 GEM Report Summary: Technology in Education: a tool on whose terms? (2023). UNESDOC Digital Library. https://doi.org/10.54676/habj1624
[2] Adults using PLATO terminals at Parkland College. (1969). Photographic Subject File. Record Series 39/2/20, Box COL 13, Folder COL 13-13. University of Illinois Archives.
[3] Sidoti, Olivia. “About 1 in 5 US Teens Who’ve Heard of CHATGPT Have Used It for Schoolwork.” Pew Research Center, Pew Research Center, 16 Nov. 2023, www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2023/11/16/about-1-in-5-us-teens-whove-heard-of-chatgpt-have-used-it-for-schoolwork/.
[4] Microsoft (n.d.). Teaching solutions. Microsoft.com. https://www.microsoft.com/en-in/education