How AI is Changing Education

Technology is evolving at breakneck speeds, and the world is rapidly adapting to countless advancements that seemingly come every minute. We’re securing a better present and future for our society, and every transformation affects all of our economic sectors. One of the most significant advancements of the past few decades is the development and proliferation of artificial intelligence (AI). This technology has immensely transformed businesses across a variety of numerous industries, including the education sector.

AI has transformed the way institutions and teachers do their job, while also revolutionizing the ways students learn. In fact, according to Market Research Engine, AI in the global education market will reach $5.80 billion by 2025 at a compound annual growth rate of 45%. Needless to say, AI already has, and will continue to radically transform the education sector as we know it.

What Is AI?

AI is the field of study involving the simulation of human intelligence by machine processes. Through this, computer systems become capable of many activities that humans can do, such as problem-solving, learning, planning, language processing, and more. The field has countless applications, such as automating processes that require decision-making, forming recommendations, recognizing patterns, and providing customized solutions to many problems.

There are different types of AI, two of them being weak AI and strong AI. Weak AI—also called Narrow AI or Artificial Narrow Intelligence is focused on performing specific tasks, many of which we use every day such as Apple’s Siri, Amazon’s Alexa, and IBM’s Watson. Strong AI is made up of Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) and Artificial Super Intelligence (ASI). This is a theoretical form of AI where a machine would have an intelligence on par with humans, including the self-awareness to learn, solve problems, and plan for the future. Super Intelligence would potentially surpass the ability of the human brain. While strong AI is still theoretical, there are many researchers actively exploring its development.

AI and the Education Sector

Artificial intelligence is an instrumental tool in developing education and how we teach and learn. It’s a disruptive force that brings many changes and addresses issues in modern learning. Here are some profound ways that AI has been transforming the sector.

Providing and Enhancing Virtual Learning Environments

Many educational institutions are changing their systems and the way they deliver quality education to their students. Schools across the globe are using online platforms that enable students to access learning materials anytime and anywhere. AI powers these technologies and allows for more streamlined processes.

Because of artificial intelligence and these learning platforms, students and educators are no longer bound to the four corners of the classroom. This development is especially crucial for students who are unable to attend classes in person. Moreover, it also allows students to study overseas without a significant change in their environments and the costs of flights and living expenses.

AI-powered online learning platforms can also actively translate learning materials for students. This advancement vastly expands the opportunities of both educators and learners.

Automating Administrative Tasks

Teachers and educational institutions have countless responsibilities, with administrative tasks taking up a significant amount of their time and attention. These tasks, such as entering grades or filing paperwork, can be time-consuming, resource-intensive, and prone to human error.

But AI can help educators by automating administrative tasks like these. Not only do they take the burden off teachers and staff, automated processes can be performed at a much faster pace with fewer mistakes. Because of this transformative technology, educators can focus their energy on the core duties of their jobs, such as finding novel ways to enhance students’ learning experiences.

Personalized Learning Experiences

Over the years, educational institutions have learned that each student is unique and has their own approach to learning. Although educators cannot customize their teaching style to fit the individual needs of every single learner, AI can provide solutions to help personalize learning. AI technology can learn about each student’s skill level and their areas of difficulty, which it can use to provide personalized recommendations for improving and mastering lessons.  

Among the many digital solutions that AI brings to education is the ability to operate on smart tutorial platforms. These programs act as teacher assistants and can offer personalized learning experiences by providing specific feedback and customized plans based on the individual’s strengths, weaknesses, and preferences. AI-powered tools can make insightful reports and help educators track their students’ progress. They can then adapt their lessons to fit the needs of each learner.

Because of these capabilities, institutions can reinforce the quality of their education system and significantly enhance student performance. This type of technology is especially crucial for helping students with disabilities or have trouble learning and absorbing various materials.

Adding Smart Content

Smart content is now an increasingly prevalent topic among educational institutions since it can make the learning process easier and boost overall student success. AI can develop content and interfaces that can adapt to learners’ preferences and make materials easily digestible.

This technology can logically divide content, summarize lessons, and highlight essential topics to aid learners and teachers. It can even generate audio and video content to provide students with smart materials to enhance their success.

More Secure and Efficient Exams

Teachers can use AI-powered tools to more easily and quickly prepare questions and exercises for online exams and help them evaluate and grade the results. Because these digital solutions automate the administration and evaluation processes, they make online exams more secure and efficient and can help prevent cheating by enabling educators to enable various test settings, such as randomizing questions and items. Moreover, they reduce errors in grading and checking work.

Conclusion

AI is able to address many of the education sector’s biggest challenges and help institutions provide their students with the highest quality of education. Enhancing learning environments, providing personalized learning, automating routine tasks, and creating secure online testing are just a few of the ways in which AI is revolutionizing the sector. This technology will continue to develop and transform the way people educate and learn, and it’s only fitting to invest in solutions that harness the power of AI.

If you’re looking for digital solutions for your institution, reach out to Everestek. Our “all in one” delivery capability leverages 20 years of unique business know-how and technical expertise to implement digital solutions that are focused on user experience, automation and quality.