Embracing the AI revolution: transforming education for the future
By Dr T.V. Prabhakar, Advisor IT, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, India, COL Chair 2019–2021
Artificial Intelligence (AI) has been a promising technology for quite some time, but it thoroughly burst into the mainstream with the introduction of ChatGPT. Suddenly, everyone is talking about generative AI, artificial general intelligence and singularity (the point when AI becomes more intelligent than human beings). So how will these advancements affect our daily lives, our job security and even our existence? And what do they mean for education?
Educators have always been early adopters of technology. We use computers extensively for various purposes, such as creating and consuming content, delivering courses, conducting research and managing learning processes. We have even transformed computer games into educational tools. Now, AI is poised to take education to the next level by providing significant capabilities.
At the heart of learning lies the interaction between teacher and student. In an ideal scenario, the teacher is fully aware of the student‘s background and learning abilities, enabling them to tailor the learning materials to suit each learner’s specific needs. The teacher should be available 24/7, and the learning materials should be accessible in multiple formats, including lecture videos, audio summaries, strategy games and assessments. In simple terms, AI technologies can make all these possibilities a reality.
AI also has the potential to enhance all aspects of education, including teaching, learning, assessments and management, thereby impacting all the stakeholders involved: teachers, students, parents, educators and administrators.
For teachers, the first step is creating lesson plans, which can easily be handled by generative AI, allowing for customisation to cater to students with diverse backgrounds. AI can also assist in creating engaging lessons by providing relevant slides, notes, assignments and assessments. Furthermore, AI can help alleviate the burden of correcting assessments, often a major bottleneck for teachers.
For students, the prospects are even more fascinating. They can expect an AI bot to be available anytime to assist them with their lessons and clarify any doubts they may have. The personalised tutor can not only help with the current lesson, but also provide supplementary material from previous lessons, if needed, and all at a flexible pace. Students with special needs are expected to benefit tremendously from such technology.
Analytics will experience a significant boost with the integration of AI at various points. School administrators will be able to assess the effectiveness of teaching and learning, identify areas of improvement and provide assistance to both students and teachers. Parents will gain insights into their child’s progress and development.
However, while these advancements hold great promise, there are several aspects that need to be addressed. First and foremost, we must ensure that humans remain involved in the educational process, not only to oversee the implementation of AI but also to ensure its humane nature. With the abundance of data, concerns about privacy and bias need to be carefully managed.
When discussing AI in education, it is also crucial to determine what should be taught about AI itself in schools. Beyond the technical aspects of how AI works, it is equally important to address the moral, legal and societal implications of the impending AI revolution.
In conclusion, we are entering an era of both great interest and great challenges for society as AI continues to revolutionise education. The potential benefits are substantial, but we must navigate these advancements thoughtfully and responsibly.
For further reading:
Office of Educational Technology (2023). Artificial Intelligence and the Future of Teaching and Learning: Insights and Recommendations. US Department of Education.
