Technology is undoubtedly an integral part of most industries today. In order to adequately prepare students for a future that is sure to incorporate a mixed environment of human and artificial intelligence (AI) technology, schools must begin to mirror the same environment one can expect once out in the workforce.
Remote education systems, in addition to an increase in the demand for cloud technologies, is changing the way educational curriculum is delivered. A variety of technology platforms and microservices are rapidly evolving as key business models in the educational sector.
What to Expect with Artificial Intelligence in Education
The future of Artificial Intelligence in Education (AIEd) offers access to greater tools and support available for educators and students alike. By utilizing the power of AIEd, new forms of assessment can measure learning while it is taking place, shaping the learning experience in real time while providing valuable feedback.
Teacher’s Perspective
- Administrative Improvements. AIEd can improve efficiency and automation of time-consuming processes like grading of homework, and tests. Collecting data on class attendance and behavioral disruptions can assist in identify at risk students.
- Tracking and Feedback. AIEd can highlight areas where teachers are not aware of gaps in their lessons. If a large number of students are unable to answer a question correctly, the system can alert teacher and students. The tracking of progress across subjects ensures a strong foundation of knowledge and skill is being built.
Student’s Perspective
- Individualized courses. Greater levels of individualized learning- through games or software, offers greater emphasis on topics that students have not yet mastered, or to work at their own pace.
- Smart Content. Digitized guides of textbooks, and use of digital content platforms offers access to curriculum for a variety of locations, comes with real time feedback, exercises, and assessments.
- Immersive Experiences. Students can jump into and explore historical events as if they were present at the event in real-time via immersive technology like “Titanic the Exhibition”. Actively participating in events that students otherwise would not have access to, encourages students to transfer classroom knowledge into real world scenarios.
Things to Consider
As with any introduction of technology into the workplace, the goal should be to enhance human interaction and not to replace it. To be effective, education and learning should remain social experiences that ought not to be automated. Collaboration and communication with others are key to the learning process.
While AIEd will change how classrooms interact with information, the introduction of such technology should be introduced with caution. Consider how digital content is adapted to our online behaviors. Google results vary based on location, Amazon makes recommendations based on previous purchases, and nearly all web ads are geared toward your interests and preferences. Students conducting research and self-learning can result in vastly different experiences and facts.
AI tutoring systems and self-paced classes allows for individualized learning but the majority of schools are built upon standardized learning. Schools will have to strategically introduce AI and other technology to account for how some students will naturally progress faster than others will.
AI systems can be programmed to provide expertise, serving as a place for students to ask questions and find information. While it is unlikely that AI will ever replace educators, we are sure to see a shift in learning and the role of student and teacher to evolve along with the evolution of technology.