Understanding the Role of Artificial Intelligence in Education

Understanding the Role of Artificial Intelligence in Education

Introduction

Rapid advancement in technology in terms of robotics and artificial intelligence has impacted various industries including, transportation, entertainment, and education. Artificial intelligence is a continuously flourishing technological domain with the ability to alter various elements of social interactions. Guilherme (2019, p. 49) explains that AI has introduced advanced learning and teaching solutions that are being undertaken through testing in varying contexts of education. The advancement evidenced in the use of technology in education has been facilitated by the availability of advanced infrastructures and the ecosystem of different innovators. Research shows that the application of AI has eliminated the need for libraries in that most students have technology at their disposal that they employ as the main source of information and entertainment.  The impact of artificial intelligence in education cannot be ignored, considering the drastic changes in traditional methods. Technology has transformed the academic world into a personalized and convenient platform due to numerous applications of AI. It has changed the manner in which people learn through increased access to educational materials. Technology has removed the need for physical classes since learning can happen anywhere owing to internet connection and availability of computers (Shen and Su, 2020, p. 19) AI has facilitated the automation of various administrative tasks in a manner that has enabled institutions to reduce to time used to complete difficult tasks in order for educators to spend more time handling individual learner’ issues. Artificial intelligence has caused Photostats and chalkboards to become a thing of the past due to the availability of IT suites, interactive whiteboards, and learning that is based on tablets, among other technological devices.

Role of Artificial Intelligence in Education

            Since its introduction into the system in 1956, artificial intelligence (AI) has continued to garner significant interests in various industries in the world. However, although this technology has been existent for the past 60 years, its application particularly in education has been slow due to limited economic access to computing abilities and advances in technological learning. The application of AI in education has faced various growth limitations in the education systems due to the system’s reluctance to adopt technological changes. However, AI was envisioned to transform education through the creation of tutor systems that could facilitate the personalization of learning (Li, Wang, and Xin, 2019. P. 140). Although technology has not become standard in institutions, the application of artificial intelligence in learning has been taught in the 1980s. Guilherme (2019, p. 52) and Conati, Porayska-Pomsta, and Mavrikis (2018) agree that education and AI are inseparable in that the two appear to be made for each other. Education is often used to develop the capability of minds to expand and leverage knowledge pool while AI is known to provide various tools for developing a detailed and accurate picture of how the human intellectuality works.

The utilization of AI’s dynamic nature provides learners with opportunities that are not found in textbooks or a four-walled structure. The integration of AI and the human mind works in a synergistic fashion that propels each other towards the discovery of various learning frontiers and the development of innovative technologies. In a bid to benefit from such collaboration, educational agents have started to implement various IT models by bringing questions of concern to the field of education. Technology has resulted in the abundance of data in a manner that allows humans and societal behavior to be quantified, traced, and modeled objectively. Datafication has affected information footprints in most facets of life, including the education sector. Although datafication and advancement in technology introduce various ethical concerns in operation, it has brought a diverse world of possibilities in terms of education governance and the individualization of education.

According to a report by Microsoft, more than 2000 students and teachers in Singapore, Canada, the US, and the UK use artificial intelligence to get enhanced and innovative ways of teaching in a fast and personalized manner. The increased use of AI has been facilitated by the need for personalized learning, provision of teacher’s aid, and student assistance. AI helps to improve learning opportunities for management systems and students through the promotion of inclusivity and equitable education to promote learning opportunities for most, as stipulated in the Sustainable Development Goals. According to Furey and Martin (2019, p.14), AI technologies are often used to promote inclusive and equitable access to education by providing the marginalized communities, refugees, and people with disabilities, among others, effective learning opportunities. For instance, the application of telepresence robotics enables learners with special needs to learn from home or hospital by promoting the continuity of learning in crises or emergencies. Through such applications, AI helps to support ubiquitous access while supporting inclusion. Guilherme (2019, p. 48) explains that the application of AI advances collaborative learning by facilitating the integration of learners who are not in the same location. Computer-supported learning makes the execution of online discussion groups.

It is often difficult to provide personalized learning for a class with more than 30 students. However, the application of AI provides different distinct levels of differentiation in a manner that customizes learning to meet individual strengths and weaknesses. The use of AI techniques such as shallow text processing and machine learning provides teachers with the opportunity to monitor learner’s discussions and support their learning and engagement adequately. Besides, it helps to personalize learning through the creation of an improved professional environment for teachers to work on students with varied difficulties and abilities.

AI enhances the learner’s ability in that teachers can implement the use of a virtual teaching assistant and a physical teacher, which tends to free up the teacher’s time allowing them more time with the students. Although teachers are often known to teach only, they spend time preparing lesson plans and grading test papers. Tasks such as marking papers can be done by machines, which provides teachers with increased flexibility and lighter workload to work on other pressing issues. AI has the ability to grade multi-choice tests, to enhance enrollment, and the processes of admission (Guilherme, 2019, p. 49) Most of the time, teachers often spend a lot of team researching and gaining knowledge on a particular subject before engaging students. However, the use of artificial intelligence avails comprehensive information to teachers whenever they need it. Teachers can apply this information to educate themselves to learn foreign languages and master complex programming techniques, among others. It is through such efforts that teachers become effective at teaching and impacting the student’s knowledge positively.

Such systems often take up teacher’s routine tasks in a manner that enables them to concentrate on one-to-one communication to provide student guidance. For instance, the use of the Computer Assisted Learning (CAL) field facilitates the creation of alternatives that support the student’s learning strategies with AI and digital technology. Besides, this technology helps to map individual trajectories and learning plans of the students, including their strengths and weaknesses. It can facilitate the use of algorithms in a manner that helps students to navigate through different activities and contents with ease (Li, Wang, and Xin, 2019, p. 140). Additionally, AI helps to enhance the student’s learning opportunities with the assistance of schools and teachers through the application of Intelligent Tutoring Systems.

Time is of the essence in schools and learning institutions. The application of AI helps teachers to conserve the time that is often spent on homework and grading tests. It can be used to grade tests and assess essays, among other tests. For instance, China has applied experimental design to assist in the correction of essays through the use of AI. This technology has been applied to approximately 60,000 schools where it has shown at least 92% matching precision with that of humans (Passonneau, McNamara, Muresan, and Perin, 2017, p. 667). This technology is based on neural network AI that has improved ability to understand human language through the application of deep learning algorithms that plow through written essays while comparing notes with teacher’s comments and grading systems. For instance, an adaptive learning solution, referred to as the Mathematics Adaptive Platform (PAM), has been applied widely to provide learners with personalized feedback based on individual kills and an in-depth analysis of student experiences. According to Perera and Aboal (2018, p. 18), PAM provides students with help over a range of step-by-step exercises and feedback patterns that explain the solution from each exercise.

Creating connections is one activity that AI executes with the utmost efficiency. Since AI is computer-based, it can connect learners in different classrooms in different parts of the world. This technology achieves such a connection whole fostering communication, cooperation, and collaboration, amongst nations and schools. AI helps to eliminate learning boundaries since education does not have limits. The application of AI in education is unlimited. This technology brings significant transitions through the facilitation of learning of various courses from any place at any time. AI-powered learning enables students to gain fundamental skills that influence their learning positively. Additional inventions often provide a greater range of courses, which enable the student to learn from any place in the world. According to 2019, the use of artificial intelligence makes it easy to fill gaps in educational material and the tutor’s presentation. The teacher is often alerted by the system whenever a number of students submit incorrect answers, which shows their level of understanding. The tutor can provide hints to the answers for other students in a bid to enhance their conceptual foundation of learning the topic in the future.

Artificial Intelligence Application in Education

Technology has enabled the development of educational applications that harness the power of artificial intelligence to enhance learning in students of varying ages while empowering the learner and the teacher with additional avenues to achieve their educational goals.

Affective Robot Tutor Integrated Environment

Most children often lack in emotional well-being and particularly when they are made to feel inadequate and inefficient by their tutors. However, AI promotes the emotional well-being of children, which affects how they focus, engage, and remain motivated to learn. In a bid to promote the well-being of children in education, the department of AI in Madrid has started working in a robot referred to as the Affective Robot Tutor Integrated Environment (ARTIE) whose chief role is to identify the student’s emotional state through mouse action and keyboard strokes(Imbernón, Manjarrés and De La Paz López, 2016, p. 77). The technology will be run on algorithms that most choose the most effective intervention to provide students with personalized educational support. The technology will provide emotional support through the use of encouraging gestures, words, and attempts to enhance the student’s motivation and interests towards a particular learning goal (Rifat, Rahman, Uddin, Tawhid, and Alam, 2018, p. 27). The design team is now focusing on various cognitive states, including the inactive, concentrating, and distracted. Testing has revealed that social support behaviors that are provided by the robot tutors have shown to impact on the ability and behavior of students positively.

Nao is a recently manufactured humanoid robot technology with the ability to talk, move, and teach children from seven years on issues that range from literacy to computer programming. This technology often engaged children when learning various science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) STEM subjects through the provision of a fun coding lab. The provision of basic coding enables students to instruct the machine to undertake particular tasks such as emotional movements, hand gestures, and choreographed dances (Furey and Martin, 2019, p. 14). This aspect provides students with the opportunity to familiarize themselves with the robot by instructing it to undertake different tasks, which prepares them to train and apply artificial intelligence in the future.

Smart Content

Education and AI are inseparable, an aspect that is facilitated by new techniques that ensure that students achieve their ultimate academic success. For instance, robots have the ability to produce digital content with what various essay writing services can provide. Smart content includes video conferencing and video lectures. According to Guilherme (2019, p. 47), AI systems are now using traditional textbooks to come up with customized books for particular subjects. Textbooks have become digitized, and advanced learning interfaces have been created to enable students to achieve their academic goals. Some of these mechanisms include Cram101, Netex Learning, and Brainly, among others.

Intelligent Tutoring Systems (ITS) – The organization of a curriculum around the learner’s progress with a combination of timely targeted feedback provides varied opportunities for corrected practices and enrichment activities. The application of AI facilitates the development of a one-to-one learning system that provides learning with the coveted goal of AI researchers. According to 2019, ITS has made significant progress and has managed to perform better than human tutors for most students. For instance, Mika software by Carnegie Learning uses AI technologies and cognitive science to offer personalized tutoring and feedback for students, particularly those in college who would need remedial courses. The application of ITS enables students to access personalized and flexible learning modes on a continuous basis.

Thinkster Math – This tutoring app uses an artificial application to blend real math curriculum with various personalized teaching styles. This application uses machine learning and artificial intelligence to visualize how students are thinking whenever they are working on a particular problem (Imbernón, Manjarrés, and De La Paz López, 2016, p. 77). This provides teachers with the opportunity to spot areas in the learner’s logic and thinking that has caused them to stagnate and assisting them with immediate, personalized feedback.

Content Technologies, Inc. – Content technologies are known for the creation of customized learning tools for students using Deep learning technologies. CTI machines often employ the use of algorithms to come up with personalized coursework and textbooks that are based on various concepts. In the same manner, Cram 101 employs the use of AI-activated offering to turn any textbook to a smart study guide while providing bite-sized content that is easy to learn in a short time. This technology is also known for producing multiple-choice questions that help students to learn more effectively by saving their time (Shen & Su, 2020, p. 17) Cram101 uses AI technology to simply textbook contents more comprehensible and easy to understand with summaries of various flashcards, chapters, and practical tests.

Netex Learning – This is an AI-enabled learning that enables teachers to integrate and design curriculum across various digital devices and platforms. Netex learning is an easy to use platform that enables teachers to develop customized content that can get published on various digital platforms (Li, Wang, and Xin, 2019). Netex enables tutors to create educative information and electronic curriculums across different devices through the use of online assistance audios, programs, and illustrative videos. Teachers can also access tools for digital discussions, video conferences, personalized assignments, and learning analytics to show a visual representation of every learner’s growth.

Brainly – Brainly uses AI-powered technology to provide students with a learning platform where students ask questions and receive automatic and verified answers from other students. The site also allows students to integrate and identify solutions on their own (Rifat, Rahman, Uddin, Tawhid, and Alam, 2018). The application makes use of machine learning algorithms so as to filter out all forms of spam.

MATHIaU – This is an AI-powered application that is similar to Carnegie’s learning and Thinkster Math. This platform provides learners with various tutoring tools for students who may get lost by the lecturer provided notes. This app is often guided by every student’s unique learning process in that it keeps learners aware and helps teachers to tailor their lessons to meet individual learning struggles.

Challenges of Artificial Intelligence in Education

Although artificial intelligence has transformed education in different ways, there are various challenges that limit the effective implementation of the technology in institutions. According to Furey and Martin (2019, p. 14), the main challenge in the implementation of AI lies in the strategizing and planning of the school budget. Institutions must understand the most effective AI-based tools to overcome implementation strategies. It is often important, to begin with, the implementation with the philosophical approach, such as a reactionary approach or Universal Design for Learning. Alternatively, an organization can invest in content development through the creation of demonstration and props aid, among others. Another problem facing the implementation of AI is that the technology has to work perfectly to be considered useful. Most teachers are quite skeptical that AI technology is too robust to have any usefulness.

The complexity needed in the development of complex technological conditions requires the effective alignment of institutions, among other multiple factors. Various public policies must work in partnership with national and international levels such that to create an effective ecosystem that promotes sustainable development. In the struggle of achieving equity and inclusion through the application of AI in education, the developing countries are likely to face various social, economic, and technological divides in the development of AI. Obstacles such as technological infrastructure could also be faced in the implementation of new strategies that improve learning.

Teachers in AI-powered education must learn improved digital skills in order to use artificial intelligence in a meaningful and pedagogical manner. On the other hand, teachers must learn how to work and create solutions in a sustainable real-life environment. Those involved must also develop inclusive and quality data systems in order to develop state capabilities that enhance systematization and data collection (Luckin, Holmes, Griffiths, and Forcier, 2016). AI development should be well implemented in order to enhance the essence of data in the management of educational systems.

Although it is anticipated that AI in education will increase in the coming years, it is necessary to recall the various difficulties that the education sector had endured in taking stock of research for policy-making and practice (Shen & Su, 2020, p. 18). It will also be exceedingly necessary to deal with transparency and ethics in the collection, use, and dissemination of information (Guilherme, 2019, p.49). This is necessary considering that AI opens various ethical concerns with regard to individual students, data privacy, education systems, and data privacy. Data feeding algorithms, liability, data ownership, and privacy, and AI regulation needs public discussion on security, transparency, and accountability, among others.

Conclusion

Advancement in technology has created fears that humans could be replaced by artificial intelligence in the near-decade. However, advancement in AI has provided evidence to support the fact that humans and intelligent systems are required to manage various aspects of social competencies and intelligent systems. Although AI will not replace humans in education, they will serve as instrumental extensions of human expertise by helping teachers to meet the learners’ diverse needs effectively. There is a high likelihood that most companies and institutions will adopt machine learning to facilitate the growth of skills that are focused on science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). This will also encourage the development of non-cognitive soft skills intended to meet the world’s impending needs. Students will also be aware of the ever-changing technologies such as AI and will understand the best way to work with other people in order to solve people’s problems effectively. Mentoring students in a computer-enabled environment will enable such children to thrive in the digital workplace in the future.

References

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