Artificial Intelligence (AI) In Education
Sipping a coffee after a hectic day after my GMAT, I just mumbled to my hubby, “How cool would it be if we could learn the same way as we are evaluated on the GMAT – completely adaptive to my responses”. This thought lingered throughout the day, and I wanted to explore the prospects and implications of adaptive learning and blended education with students of diverse age groups.
This is what intrigued me to do some reading and research further. This brought me to the concepts of Artificial Intelligence and adaptive learning and drives my current academic research. Is it!!! Yes, you have such technology, which can do wonders…… But what is it, what it does, and how can it be part of any sector, including Education!!!!!
What exactly is Artificial Intelligence?
Artificial intelligence is the simulation of human intelligence processes by machines, especially computer systems.
Artificial Intelligence has become an emerging trend in recent years in different field: science, business, education, automotive and marketing. AI has also reached education, be it primary or secondary, including the PhD level. Is it!!!!
With a plethora of technologies flooding the EdTech diaspora, professional and higher education have widened their radii of influence. The modalities of conducting student programs have changed and the concept of a physical classroom has transformed. With a multitude of learning avenues, a learner in today’s times now looks forward to a personalized learning with technology advantage and usage.
Artificial intelligence is a critical aspect for any university or institution which is now trying to delve into experiential and personalized learning. As the Universities now create programs for students of diverse backgrounds, it becomes imperative that the course imparts the intended knowledge to the student while also acknowledging the learner’s potential and ability.
Factors that Influence Artificial Intelligence in Education
These are the 3 major areas I see where AI can influence education in a big way.
Improving Teachers Competence
An improved classroom experience came out to be a major outcome affecting teacher’s competencies in adoption of AI by universities. Through several “Train the Trainer” initiatives, the faculty competencies improve and increase, and the overall model of program execution and pedagogy is improved. An augmented and AI assisted classroom covers the gaps for the faculty and ensures a thorough content delivery adapted and suited to the learning potentials of the students. While onboarding is an uphill task for a traditional teacher, the overall experience is seamless and smooth thereafter. This is not just a supplement but a complement for the teachers.
Improving Student’s Expectations
While the student expectations from an AI assisted course is mostly to have adaptive learning, executive courses offered though the executive education modes often prove cost effective as well. If the students’ expectations are met thoroughly by enabling a completely robust blended and augmented learning program which is industry acknowledged, they would readily accept and assist learning.
Once the students’ expectations are met, there would be a paradigm shift from conventional to virtual learning.
Improving Technology Integration
The incorporation of AI applications in educational institutions is likely to bring with it benefits, but also significant risks. Defining and examining these risks as applications are implemented, and new applications that emerge will be necessary on an ongoing basis. It may be that some of these concerns are unfounded and that current beliefs about education should be re-evaluated, but a sober and thoughtful examination can reveal important truths and obstacles.
Critical Relationship among the three factors:
The three basic factors have a lot of interdependencies upon each other. The teachers’ competencies and students’ expectations are symbiotic and are together driven by the technological integrations and interfaces. As we see an evolution and addition to the faculty competencies, we see an increase in leveraging technology by the teachers thereby an improved technology integration in the pedagogy.
Similarly, as technology evolves, we see the student’s embracing adaptive learning and finding the virtual learning avenues more convenient. The faculty drives this change in student expectations by engaging the students in interactive learning and by recorded and animations enabled videos and presentations.
With the use of AI, students now have a personalized approach to learning programs based on their own unique experiences and preferences. AI can adapt to each student's level of knowledge, speed of learning and desired goals so they're getting the most out of their education.
Plus, AI-powered solutions can analyze students’ previous learning histories, identify weaknesses, and offer courses best suited for improvement, providing many opportunities for a personalized learning experience.
If this writeup tingles you and you want to have further discussion, please reach out to the IREU team and we would be very pleased to help you answer your questions and have an intriguing discussion.
At IREU, we are committed to growing continually and intellectually, while ensuring that you stay industry relevant at all phases of your career. The programs are carefully designed using the latest industry trends and AI is deployed at every phase of your learning – be it the start of your career or the evaluations at the end.
Visit www.ireu.education to learn more.