The public release of ChatGPT in 2022 marked a massive milestone in the popularity and global interest in AI. It showed off impressive capabilities in natural language, and sparked hundreds of projects that fueled a boom in the advancement of artificial intelligence. It’s natural, with AI creeping into everything from online shopping to healthcare, that it would eventually find its way into education.

Artificial intelligence is revolutionizing education by enhancing teaching methods, improving accessibility, and personalizing learning experiences. As technology continues to advance, its integration into the educational sector has the potential to reshape how students learn, educators teach, and institutions operate.

AI In Education Isn’t Exactly New

The term ‘artificial intelligence’ was coined at Dartmouth College in 1953, but it wasn’t until 1960 that we saw the birth of computer-assisted instruction (CAI). These programs were built on the massive, expensive computer systems of the 60s. As the decades rolled on, and computers got smaller and cheaper, more schools got onboard with CAI.

Desktop computers ushered in the use of ‘intelligent tutoring systems’ where tutorial programs taught students everything from colors and shapes to complex calculus. They gave an early window into the benefits of personalized learning, and made adopting these new technologies appealing to educators.

While it certainly wasn’t the AI we currently know, these strides in digital education set the stage for what was to come.

At the time of writing, AI’s role in education is still growing, but not without significant momentum. According to statistics gathered by the global learning platform Quizlet in its State of AI in Education report, 82% of college students say they’ve encountered or used AI technology. 2/3 of high school and college teachers reported using AI technology for education, as well.

Personalized Learning

AI-driven tools enable personalized education by analyzing individual learning styles, strengths, and weaknesses. Adaptive learning platforms adjust lesson plans in real-time, tailoring content to meet the specific needs of each student. For instance, AI can identify areas where a student struggles and provide targeted exercises or resources, ensuring a more efficient and effective learning experience.

Adaptive learning systems are one way that AI in education is personalizing learning. Adaptive learning systems do exactly what they suggest – adapt. In an educational setting, they’ll adapt to the user and optimize its own methods to ensure the student’s success. It’s built on three models – the Expert Model, which has all the information it needs to transfer to a student, the Student Model, which tracks what the student already knows and their current skill level, and the Instruction Model, which specializes in teaching methods. Through these three AI models coming together, a hyper-specialized teaching experience is born.

Like many other aspects of artificial intelligence in education, there are still issues to work out. AI without adequate construction can fail to recognize the nuance of individual learning. For example, if a student is learning a new language and is great at recognizing nouns, but struggles to conjugate verbs, the model might begin to only build lessons around conjugating verbs, as it has identified a weakness here. However, when test time rolls around and the student needs to remember those nouns and conjugate verbs too, they’ve not had enough time studying both parts of this subject. In other cases, a student who is given questions that are too easy learns slowly and gets bored, while one that is quizzed at a higher difficulty than they can manage due to the model’s overcompensating might get demotivated.

Enhanced Accessibility

AI is also making education more accessible for students with disabilities or those in remote locations. Speech-to-text applications, real-time language translation, and virtual tutors allow learners to overcome traditional barriers. Tools like these democratize education by giving more people access to quality learning opportunities, regardless of their location or physical abilities.

However, AI’s role in education for students with disabilities is still a work in progress. Many AI platforms have proven to be biased, and there are relatively few members of disabled communities advising the learning models used in these products. A survey of assistive technology users in 2023 revealed that fewer than 7% of respondents felt their community was sufficiently represented by currently developing AI products. However, 87% said they’d be willing to provide end-user feedback on these models if asked.

Such developments include the work being done with voice recognition. At the moment, the University of Illinois is pairing up with big names in the tech industry like Google, Microsoft, and Amazon, as well as several nonprofits, to perfect the Speech Accessibility Project. This initiative aims to make voice AI-powered recognition technology more accessible to those with speech difficulties, as commonly seen in disabilities like Parkinson’s, Down syndrome, cerebral palsy, or in those who have suffered a stroke. This may be helpful in the rapidly changing educational sector, where students may be using AI speech-recognition models to assist with learning plans.

Efficient Administrative Processes

For educators and institutions, AI streamlines administrative tasks such as grading, attendance tracking, and scheduling. Automated systems reduce the workload on teachers, freeing them to focus on more meaningful interactions with students. AI-powered analytics also provide actionable insights into student performance, helping educators make data-driven decisions to improve outcomes.

This trend of using AI for administration is catching on in a big way. In Ellucian’s second annual AI survey report, it was discovered that 80% of respondents in higher education’s administrative levels are willing and motivated to get onboard with AI-powered tools to increase their productivity or efficiency.

Intelligent Tutoring Systems

Virtual tutors powered by AI can simulate one-on-one tutoring experiences. These systems provide instant feedback and guidance, mimicking the role of a human tutor. This technology ensures students can access help whenever they need it, fostering independent learning while still offering support.

Challenges And Considerations

While AI presents numerous benefits, its implementation in education also raises challenges. Issues such as data privacy, the digital divide, and potential over-reliance on technology need to be addressed. Ensuring that educators receive proper training to use AI tools effectively is equally important to maximize their potential benefits.

Of course, one of the most pressing issues is AI’s bias. In the Ellucian report referenced above, 49% of respondents stated that they were reasonably concerned about AI’s biases – which is 13% more than in the previous year. This is not without good reason.

Racism in AI is one of the biggest biases that educators might face when adopting this type of technology. Political scientist, activist, and Special Rapporteur on racism for the United Nations, Ashwini K.P, wrote up a report that explores how the assumption that AI is completely neutral and objective is not only harmful, but allows this technology to perpetuate discrimination. When applied to education, her findings suggest that algorithms might be built on poorly harvested data from already biased groups. These data choices could wind up incorrectly identifying BIPOC students as less likely to succeed academically and professionally, leading to exclusion and unfair treatment.

Educators adopting AI technology have a responsibility to research the products they’re using at administrative levels and in the classroom. They should look into what datasets these models were built on, who made them, and do their due diligence into any biases that these AI-powered tools might be carrying. AI developers of educational products in turn are encouraged to diversify their data pools to reflect a wider range of experiences.

The Future Of AI In Education

As AI continues to evolve, its role in education is expected to grow. From virtual reality classrooms to AI-driven career guidance systems, the possibilities are endless. However, the integration of AI should complement, not replace, traditional educational methods. The human touch remains irreplaceable in fostering creativity, emotional intelligence, and critical thinking in students.

AI’s growing role in the educational sector signifies a shift toward more personalized, accessible, and efficient learning. While challenges remain, its potential to enhance education is undeniable, paving the way for a future where technology and human teaching work hand in hand to empower learners.