Artificial intelligence (AI) may seem scary because of the unknown. However, the ‘glass-half-empty types’ will be happy to know that there are plenty of ways in which we can benefit from AI.
With advancements in artificial intelligence every day, it’s critical for forward-thinking parents to give their kids an AI education, whether in school or through an online class…even if it’s just the basics.
Now, what about using artificial intelligence within the education system itself – does AI in the classroom benefit students and teachers?
You can guess the answer based on the title of this article…
Read on for the main benefits of AI in education and existing AI tools that are already supporting both students and teachers.
What Are The Benefits Of AI In Education?
1. Personalized and Adaptive learning
The school class of one teacher to 30 kids is broken. It always has been.
Individuals learn in different ways with different styles. It’s impossible to expect one human teacher standing at the front of the class to be able to give each kid the learning experience they need.
Teachers are also under enormous pressure inside and outside of the classroom. In addition to teaching a large class, they also have to be constantly aware of what each kid needs to get the most out of them, on top of teaching tasks like grading and class prep.
With AI, it is now possible for every student to get the personal attention they need, whilst removing some pressure from teachers.
EXISTING AI TOOLS:
- Alta by Knewton adjusts to how well students understand the material as they learn. They don’t need to take a test or evaluation beforehand because Alta gives them the instruction and practice they need while they work on their assignments.
- Cognii uses one-on-one tutoring, immediate feedback on written answers, and identifies knowledge gaps for students. The technology aims to reduce the workload on teachers and provide accurate and objective analysis for each student so that teachers can intervene at the right time.
As AI develops, there will be improved technologies available to support personalized learning.
2. Tutors and Teaching Assistants
Private tutors have historically been inaccessible to many because of the cost. The kids that need the most attention are often from families who cannot afford the extra help.
Additionally, teachers are limited in being able to help students by only being able to give undivided focus to one kid at a time.
The advantage of AI-powered tutors is their ability to provide unlimited support. Teachers and students could benefit immeasurably if this service were provided at all schools. Teachers can give more attention to the class, while the AI-powered tutor can give extra attention to struggling children.
AI teaching assistants adapt to the learning style and pace of students. They can also provide instant feedback and explanations, reducing the dependence on teachers.
EXISTING AI TOOLS:
- Quierum and Altitude Learning are AI-powered learning platforms that offer personalized instruction, data analysis, and real-time feedback to help students improve their Grade Point Average (GPA) scores.
- TutorMe offers on-demand private tuition. Human tutors are paired with students by AI technology based on the student’s strengths and weaknesses. It also uses AI to analyze student performance data and offer suggestions to improve. This ensures each student receives tailored attention during their tutoring sessions.
3. Streamlining Admin
A benefit of AI in education is that educational institutions become more efficient and productive.
AI streamlines admin for overburdened teachers. Automating processes like paperwork and scheduling, AI allows teachers to focus on teaching, giving students the attention they need.
EXISTING AI TOOLS:
- The iScanner app is an AI-powered document management tool for iOS and Android. It offers scanning, editing, text recognition, and more, making marking papers easier.
- Sharing assignments digitally via platforms like Google Classroom improves workflow and eliminates printing and collecting papers.
- ABBYY FlexiCapture is AI software that organizes documents by recognizing and grouping them. It extracts data for analysis and facilitates reporting. This tool simplifies document management and enhances efficiency in educational settings.
- Otter.ai records and transcribes meetings, providing convenience and accessibility. This tool is great for teacher admin and is highly recommended by experienced educators.
4. Detecting Learning Difficulties or Neurodiversity
AI algorithms can detect if a kid has learning difficulties without testing. This allows educators to intervene straight away and provide personalized support to struggling students. AI-powered systems can also make recommendations to improve the students’ learning.
The technology levels the playing field for neurodivergent children (i.e. autism, ADD, dyslexia, etc), helping them participate and excel in the classroom.
EXISTING AI TOOLS:
- Award-winning Amira Learning has a 98% success rate of detecting a child for risk of dyslexia in less than ten minutes. The tool then helps the dyslexic student practice reading and customizes micro-interventions, improving student success exponentially.
- InnerVoice by iTherapy helps students connect objects and language by explaining and labeling objects in real-time using phone camera images. The app also features a 3D avatar and prompting feature to support speech development and enhance classroom engagement for neurodivergent students.
5. Continuous Assessment and Feedback
Grading and providing feedback is a time-consuming task for teachers.
By using AI algorithms, grading can be automated, saving time and ensuring consistent evaluation. AI offers immediate insights into strengths and areas for improvement.
The feedback allows students to track their progress and get better as they go along.
EXISTING AI TOOLS:
- Gradescope is an online platform that streamlines the grading process for educators by facilitating efficient grading and providing detailed feedback to students.
- Grammarly is widely used among teachers to swiftly and accurately grade student writing assignments by identifying grammar and spelling mistakes, while also offering suggestions for enhancing sentence structure and vocabulary.
6. Resource Allocation
AI tools can analyze vast amounts of data, such as student performance, attendance, and demographics, to identify patterns, trends, and individual needs. The analysis enables administrators to allocate resources more effectively, ensuring that they are targeted where they are needed most.
The technology can assist in budgeting, staffing decisions, student support services, and professional development.
AI can automate time-consuming tasks and provide real-time analytics, increasing efficiency and helping schools make informed decisions that positively impact student outcomes.
EXISTING AI TOOLS
- BrightBytes provides fully managed data analytics tools for K-12 education to improve learning outcomes. The platform integrates data from various systems, displays it in user-friendly dashboards, and recommends actions based on research and machine learning.
- Kira Talent is an admissions tool that helps schools identify suitable students to accept while saving time for applicant families and the admissions office. It offers insights to understand applicants better, standardized assessments to reduce bias, and convenient interview options for families, enhancing the admissions process and facilitating fair decisions.
7. Data-Driven Decision Making
One of the key benefits of using AI in education is that it can simplify vast amounts of data with actionable outputs.
AI systems can identify trends and patterns that inform strategic decisions based on information such as student performance, attendance, and engagement.
Schools can use these insights to implement targeted interventions, develop effective teaching strategies, and improve overall educational outcomes.
EXISTING AI TOOLS
- Century Tech keeps tabs on each student’s development and highlights any areas of weakness in their education. Each user receives customized study suggestions and comments. As a result, it reduces teacher workload by saving time on marking, analysis, and resource creation, while providing actionable data insights to support targeted interventions and enhance teaching practices.
- Schoolzilla provides valuable insights to leaders in education, helping them make informed decisions to improve student outcomes. It brings together relevant data, and supports evidence-based action, practice, and policy for continuous learning and improvement.
8. Predictive Analytics for Student Success
AI can help students at risk of academic challenges or dropping out.
By analyzing various data points, such as attendance, grades, and engagement, AI algorithms can generate early warning indicators.
The school can intervene proactively and provide targeted support to struggling students, improving retention rates and overall student success.
EXISTING AI TOOLS
- Skyward offers predictive analytics capabilities. It uses student data to identify patterns and trends, enabling educators to predict and intervene early for students at risk of academic challenges or dropping out.
- Civitas Learning uses AI and predictive analytics to provide insights into student success and retention. Analyzing a range of data points, including academic performance and engagement helps schools identify students who may be at risk and provides targeted interventions to support their progress.
9. Continuous Professional Development for Educators
AI can support educators in their professional development journey.
AI-powered platforms offer personalized recommendations for professional development courses, resources, and learning opportunities based on an individual teacher’s needs and interests. These platforms can also provide real-time feedback and insights on teaching methods, allowing educators to refine their teaching strategies and stay updated with the latest educational practices.
EXISTING AI TOOLS
- TeachBoost supports the K-12 teacher development process through customizable tools for evaluation, compliance, personalized coaching, and mentorship. It helps educators and administrators enhance feedback quality, build relationships, and utilize powerful reporting for improved student achievement.
- Edthena is an AI-based video coaching and professional development tool. It allows teachers to record and share their teaching videos, which can be analyzed using AI algorithms to provide feedback, suggestions, and coaching for improvement.
10. Language Learning Support
AI tools can greatly assist students in learning new languages.
Intelligent language learning applications use natural language processing and speech recognition technologies to provide pronunciation feedback, vocabulary practice, and interactive language exercises. These tools allow students to practice speaking and listening skills in a supportive and immersive environment.
EXISTING AI TOOLS
- Knowji utilizes advanced education techniques to help students learn languages effectively. Its AI learning system tracks user progress and uses an algorithm for spaced repetition to enhance retention and predict when users may forget a word.
- Memrise language-learning app applies machine learning to build a learning path based on each kid’s current level. Memrise also uses AI for picture recognition. When your camera captures an object, you see its name in a language you learn.
11. Increased Access to Education
AI can provide students access to quality education in remote or underserved areas.
Virtual classrooms powered by AI enable students to participate in interactive online learning experiences, regardless of their physical location. This allows for greater inclusivity and equal education opportunities, ensuring that more students have access to educational resources and instruction.
EXISTING AI TOOLS
- AccessEd equips partners worldwide to deliver university access programs for underserved young people. They work with postgraduate university students as tutors and provide program blueprints to support academic success, social impact, and access to higher education.
- Learn Anywhere enables continuous and flexible learning in various classroom scenarios. It provides teachers with the necessary tools to deliver lessons seamlessly, whether students are physically present in the classroom or attending from home, supporting their existing setup and ensuring that no student misses a class unnecessarily.
FAQs
What is artificial intelligence and its role in education?
Understanding the Concept of Artificial Intelligence
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is like giving superpowers to computers. It’s all about making machines smart enough to do things that usually only humans can do.
With AI, computers (including phones) and machines (such as robots) can learn from data, recognize patterns, and make decisions just like we do.
The Role of AI in Education
The rising costs of living are hitting the education sector hard. Resources are constrained and schools are struggling to keep up.
AI has the potential to remove some of the burdens from schools by providing more personalized support and creating learning paths tailored to each student’s needs. AI is already helping teachers with administrative tasks and making interesting lessons, saving schools money and time.
Students and educators can benefit from incorporating AI into the education process by saving money and allocating resources to where kids need it most.
What are the limitations of AI in education?
While the potential benefits of AI in education are immense, there are challenges of AI use in education:
- Lack of human interaction: AI systems can lack the human touch and emotional connection that is crucial for effective teaching and mentorship.
- Ethical implications of AI: there are ethical concerns related to data privacy, algorithmic biases, and the potential for replacing human educators, which need to be carefully addressed to ensure responsible implementation.
- Cost and accessibility: even though AI technologies can save schools money in the long run, initial investment and setup can be expensive to implement and maintain. Ensuring equitable access to AI tools and bridging the digital divide is a significant challenge.
Summary
There are so many brilliant benefits of using artificial intelligence (AI) in education. It has the potential to revolutionize the way students learn and schools operate.
With school budgets and resources stretched, there is a genuine challenge of how they will cope over the next decade, which is where AI can fill the gap.
The examples of AI tools above illustrate how widely they can be applied and how much they can help schools and universities.
There are real challenges to using AI within education due to ethical implications and high upfront costs.
It will become more and more common for schools to rely on AI to improve the education experience responsibly.