AI and machine learning can predict, to a certain degree, who we should friend or what song we should listen to next based on our previous choices on social media and music apps. AI has assisted in video games, making enemies harder to attack by giving them the ability to interact with their surroundings to hide behind structures and pick up better weapons. But what if we dive a little deeper into AI technology?
Education professionals are taking on the task to implement AI into operations, and finding it to be quite beneficial. While social media, music, and video games have their value, education is far more necessary. Computers with artificial intelligence embody the main principles of education — learning, reasoning, and problem solving — so it’s only natural to merge AI with the education world.
So, what are the practical uses of AI in the education industry? Let’s take a look below to assess AI’s role in current and future educational activities.
Personalized Learning
AI and machine learning have the capabilities to pinpoint each student’s educational needs in a classroom. This task is much more challenging to do alone as a teacher and will be a much-appreciated help. Additionally, the student will benefit as well by having daily activities specially formulated to how they understand educational subjects and concepts.
Kindercare.com highlights Nao, the talking robot, in showing the power of AI in education. Nao is a “talking humanoid robot that teaches everything from literacy to computer programming.” It is highly effective in teaching young children various subjects, while learning from the children as well. Students can teach the robot stories and even choreograph dances for the robot to repeat. This type of AI can target and captivate children of all ages in ways that a human teacher may not be able to do.
Both AI and machine learning can learn a student’s comprehension patterns — the way they respond and comprehend different learning styles, material, and the pace in which they learn. Understanding this data, a teacher can lay out a carefully crafted course of study to maximize the learning of any student.
For example, AI, specifically machine learning, could gather that a student is struggling to learn a concept of math. It might also reveal that the student absorbs the material and has better test scores when the subject is presented visually. A teacher can now take this information to implement more videos and presentations for the student to catch them back up to speed. AI and machine learning can do in little time what a human teacher might not even be able to do in a semester or year. These detections can keep many children from falling through the cracks.
Assisting The Teacher
The above information shows one significant way that AI and machine learning can shoulder some of the load for a teacher, but it accompanies teachers in many different ways. Aside from distinguishing learning patterns for a better curriculum for students, AI can do some of the mundane duties that consume a teachers time. One such task that eats up a teacher’s time is grading papers and tests.
AI can easily score hundreds of multiple-choice tests with precision accuracy. It will take AI far less time to do so than a human. It is even becoming possible for AI to grade written essays. More time presents the opportunity for teachers to pay more attention to student themselves.
The implementation of AI and machine learning is even beginning to change the education workforce and how we ready individuals for teaching. Arizona State University, in acknowledgment of this shift in preparing educational professionals, states that:
It can be overwhelming to think about closing the widening gap between education and skills among our workforce and the looming, unknown changes that artificial intelligence and automation will bring to today’s traditional jobs. However, as technology fuels this seismic shift, it also holds the promise to drive solutions for an evolving workforce – specifically as it relates to access to education and training.”
It can do no harm to incorporate AI and machine learning into education. The benefits are far too great not to. Although, it may change the essence and duties of the traditional professor or teacher. But, given the state of education in some regions, this will not be a bad thing.
Big data, and it’s counterparts — AI, machine learning, deep learning, and other data sciences — are revolutionizing multiple industries. AI’s assistance in the educational system may see it transformed so much that people brought up in traditional methods of education may not be able to recognize it. However, it is exciting to see what it will bring.
About the Author
Avery Phillips is a freelance human based out of the beautiful Treasure Valley. She loves all things in nature, especially humans. Leave a comment down below or tweet her @a_taylorian with any questions or comments.
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A very interesting reading and well thought out. I like AI in relation to education. Post more of such articles. Thanks a lot.
Thank you for your valuable information, i would like to ask What world wide universities will benefit from using AI?