SPONSORED BY FEATURE: AI IN EDUCATION
The potential of using AI in education
A
I could be set to transform the UK education landscape, but with new possibilities come potential pitfalls. Here, we take a look at what the sector might expect - and the challenges it must anticipate - when it comes to using AI in education.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is fast transforming various sectors across the UK, and education is no exception. Thus far, however, much conversation around the topic of AI in education has tended to focus on the negatives - the potential for plagiarism, for instance. But as technology continues to advance, AI’s integration into education can offer multiple benefits, with the potential to enhance both teaching and learning experiences. The question is not whether AI is going to take off in education. It is already being used in many educational institutions, and as Head of Digital Learning at the University of Surrey, Dr Chris Trace, says, AI is “here to stay, and it’s only getting better and faster”. The question is thus: How can we use AI to the benefit of teachers and students alike?
The potential to transform
If AI is used in the right way then it has much to offer the education sector and in theory, everyone can benefit. It has the potential to transform teaching - and, therefore, the learning experience as well.
We are already seeing the use of AI-powered ‘tutors’ - or intelligent tutoring systems (ITS) - that have the technology to adapt to the requirements of the student in real-time. Personalised tutoring can be cost-prohibitive for many pupils, and AI-powered platforms and tutoring tools are a possible means to support all pupils - particularly those from less advantaged backgrounds - and level the playing field, improving equity across the UK education landscape.
Earlier this year, the University of Oxford took the lead on a study of school students in Ghana. Some students used an AI mathematics teacher - which they could access via WhatsApp for half an hour, two days a week, over a period of eight months. Their mathematics scores were then compared to their peers in a control group, and found to be considerably higher. A further example of AI tutoring software that’s already being used is
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Carnegie Learning’s MATHia software, which offers step-by-step tutoring in mathematics with 24/7 access.
It’s clear that AI can deliver a new level of accessibility and out-of- classroom support for students. Moreover, today’s children are absolutely digital natives. For many pupils, using digital AI platforms to aid in their learning will come very naturally, further enhancing their learning experience. AI also has the potential to take enhanced accessibility one step further and improve the learning experiences - and learning outcomes - for students with disabilities. Speech recognition software, text-to-speech converters, and AI-driven applications all have enormous potential to assist students with visual, auditory, or learning impairments. Microsoft’s Seeing AI app is one example, helping visually impaired students by describing the world around them through their smartphone camera.
It goes without saying that tools like these can help ensure that all students can enjoy equally beneficial access to educational resources, once again demonstrating the role of AI in levelling the academic playing field. Personalisation is clearly a major factor here too. All students - with and without special educational requirements - have different capabilities and learn in different ways. AI systems are able to assess an individual student’s strengths and weaknesses, learning styles, and then tailor to their specific needs. This adaptive learning approach ensures that students receive instruction at their own pace, making learning more effective and engaging. There are certain platforms, such as DreamBox and Khan Academy, which use AI algorithms to customise lessons for students and deliver a personalised and therefore enhanced learning experience.
Of course, educators will already be more than aware of the importance of personalisation and the fact that their pupils, naturally, have different needs. Beyond helping students directly, AI can also be used to the advantage of teachers, too. For instance, with the help of AI software and systems, educators can generate learning plans which are personalised, and they can also prepare individualised assessments.
Christophe Mallet, chief executive of Bodyswaps, a virtual reality soft skills training provider, states: “AI transforms the educator’s role, saving significant time on lesson planning and assessment, thus allowing more classroom interaction and individualised support.”
June 2024
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