How Artificial Intelligence Is Changing Education
The technological landscape is changing so rapidly that AI is no longer a futuristic possibility; it’s already impacting a lot of what we do. Machine learning and artificial intelligence is to thank for innovation across many industries and education is certainly one of them. Thanks to the pandemic, a lot of learning was pushed online. Fast forward a few years and it’s become an integral part of schooling with 86% of teachers saying that technology should be a vital part of education.
So, how is artificial intelligence changing education for better, what are the challenges and how can educators ensure this powerful tool is used optimally?
It’s never been easier for students to access additional help. Thanks to AI powered chatbots, students are able to sharpen their skills and expand their knowledge with response times of just 2.7 seconds. This takes away the pressure on teachers who don’t have the free time to dedicate to tutoring and allows students to get the quick answers they need. In fact, research from McKinsey and Company shows that 20% – 40% of teacher workload can be automated through AI.
It also benefits children from low socioeconomic backgrounds whose families don’t have the funds to hire tutors or additional learning support. Education should be accessible to everyone and AI helps this become a reality.
Each student has unique personalities, requirements and preference for learning. AI can adapt to these unique differences and provide personalised learning that hones in on one’s strengths and weaknesses. This helps educators see where there are gaps in knowledge for individual pupils as well as groups, allowing them to adapt their lesson plans where necessary. This individualised approach promotes student engagement and allows them to work at their own pace.
UK teachers spend on average 11 hours a week preparing for lessons, leading to burnout and 80% of teachers leaving the profession for that reason. With current AI, this can be reduced by 5 hours. Software such as Education CoPilot already allow teachers to prep for lessons with AI generated lesson plans, templates, reports and more. With AI and ML improving at the rate it is, imagine how much more could be automated in the near future! We don’t see machines and artificial intelligence replacing teachers anytime soon. On the contrary, AI will be the thing to help them do their jobs better and more efficiently.
AI can drastically improve learning for SEND students and makes education equity far more achievable. Personalisation allows neurodivergent students to learn at their own pace. But the real game changer here is the way AI assists with communication, organisation and allows students to practise their social skills. Tools like Talk Type and Grammarly can help expand a student’s vocabulary whilst speech recognition, voice to text and other AI-enabled features can allow students to communicate with more ease.
Of course, AI has its limitations. It’s great for data, spelling and grammar checks and general insight but will never replace humans when it comes to discussing complex concepts and displaying emotional intelligence. Not all learning activities can be easily quantified and relying too much on existing data could lead to biased results and further reinforcement of inequalities.
AI is advancing quickly but regulation is not. There are some valid concerns around privacy, data collection, fraudulent work and grading. AI has the potential to revolutionise education but this can only be achieved through ethical considerations of its limitations.
AI is bound to advance humanity in many areas and education is going to be a huge part of its progress. If used properly and ethically, it will improve education for millions, allow more equity in education, free up time for hardworking teachers and streamline processes. We hope you enjoyed this article and encourage you to share it with others who might be interested.