Redefining Education in the AI-driven Era

Like the four seasons, people change with the weather, and when it's most frequent, it's better. Today, with the various technological innovations, many sectors are being disrupted by ICT, including the global education sector. The use of new technologies in education is becoming a standard for the world we live in. With the development of ChatGPT, you can see how the education sector is likely to undergo a profound revolution for years to come. To better understand how AI is redefining education today, we will first look at the different ways in which the education sector is evolving thanks to AI, then we will see the contributions of new technologies in education, and finally we will consider how AI can be seen as a means of promoting equal opportunities for students around the world.

DEVELOPMENTS IN THE FIELD OF EDUCATION IN THE AGE OF AI

The emergence of new approaches: With the development of AI, traditional teaching methods are becoming obsolete and new approaches are emerging to develop the education sector. Today, teaching is becoming more personalised to meet the needs of students. As such, conversational AI is increasingly being used with chatbots to bring this personalised aspect to education(Appinventive,2024).

There is also a new form of education that is growing. It is e-learning, which is online-based learning. This teaching method has developed considerably since the COVID-19 crisis, when we saw how outdated and ineffective traditional teaching methods were in the event of a pandemic. If you were a student at the time, you must have discovered the wonders of e-learning!? AI made it possible for young people to continue their education from home, saving the education sector. In fact, many countries have been able to confirm this statement by implementing colossal resources to ensure the education of their youth during the pandemic. This was the case in Austria, Brazil and China, for example (Reliefweb, 2020).

Furthermore, in terms of e-learning, it is estimated that the online education market will reach $185.20 billion in 2024 (Statista,2024), which shows that thanks to AI, this new learning method is revolutionising the education sector by proving the obsolescence of traditional teaching methods.

A well-known example of how AI is changing teaching methods is Google Classroom. This software allows teachers to design and assign assignments, provide feedback and effectively control classroom interactions. Google Classroom's AI algorithms can examine student data to provide insights into performance and growth. This makes it an innovative tool in the world of education. (Appinventive, 2024).

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Now, what about the contributions of AI in education?

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THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF AI IN EDUCATION

Making education more dynamic: By using more AI tools, teachers are making education more dynamic. They create a more interactive learning environment that develops students' critical thinking and problem-solving skills (Fast Company,2023). For example, conversational AI through the use of chatbots makes education more attractive and fun for young students. For example, with the “QuizBot” chatbot (Dashlyblog,2023), which aims to develop revision sheets for students' exams, teachers could prepare students more accurately for their exams. Thanks to AI, student-teacher interaction will be better, which could lead to better results!

Improving the effectiveness of education: Education will become simpler and more accessible to students. In fact, by using effective algorithms, the results provided to students will be more digestible and concise. Learners will no longer have to wade through hundreds of pages to find what they are looking for. Their results will be clear and concise and they will be able to tailor them to their needs. In addition, students and teachers will no longer have to spend a lot of time searching for what they need. (Fast Company, 2023).

It is true that AI is very helpful for education, but we should realise that it can also be a source of equality among students.

AI AS A MEANS OF PROMOTING EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES AMONG STUDENTS

Appropriate adaptation to student level: to respect the principle of equality between learners, it will be possible to adapt the AI to the general level of the class and, in some cases, to the level of a student, so that everyone has the chance to progress at their own pace (Fast Company,2023). This can be used to provide personalised feedback to students to correct their weaknesses. One example is Duolingo, which uses AI to develop flexible language courses. Its AI systems monitor student progress, identify areas for development, and modify course content as needed to optimise student outcomes. (Appinventiv, 2024).

A way to promote equal opportunities for students: Thanks to its personalised system and other advantages, AI, if used well, could further improve classroom observations, close the achievement gap, ensure equal participation of students, promote an inclusive approach to education and ensure equal opportunities for all learners. AI could then be the way to ensure a more equitable education system for all students. (THE Journal, 2023).

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Finally, it is important to note that AI is completely redefining education today. Traditional methods are giving way to digital methods that promote personalised education and equal opportunities. The global market for AI in education is expected to grow from $3.79 billion in 2022 to $20.54 billion in 2027. (GME,2024). Of course, AI is revolutionising education in developed countries, but for countries in the Global South, the use of new technologies could exacerbate the digital divide between those who will have access to ICTs and those who will not. It remains important, therefore, that international action is taken to ensure global equity in education in the AI era.

This article has been written by Otermans Institute member: Jésus-Marie Bapfubusa Siapze

For more information, get in touch by email at: [email protected]

BIBLIOGRAPHY

• Appinventive (2024) “10 ways artificial intelligence transforming the education industry”. Available at?: https://appinventiv.com/blog/10-ways-artificial-intelligence-transforming-the-education-industry/#:~:text=The%20Future%20of%20Learning%3A%20AI%2Ddriven%20Education,-AI%2Ddriven%20education&text=Students%20get%20personalized%20learning%2C%20immediate,quick%20assistance%2C%20promoting%20independent%20learning. Accessed on January 16th,2024.
• Dashly blog (2023) “Education chatbots example”. Available at?: https://www.dashly.io/blog/education-chatbot-example/. Accessed on January 16th,2024.
• Fast Company (2023) “How AI in education can enhance the learning process”. Available at?: https://www.fastcompany.com/90946322/how-ai-in-education-can-enhance-the-learning-process#:~:text=AI%20will%20enhance%20students'%20skills,to%20become%20productive%20and%20analytical. Accessed on January 16th,2024.
• GME (2024) “AI in education market”. Available at?: https://www.globalmarketestimates.com/market-report/ai-in-education-market3891#:~:text=The%20global%20AI%20in%20education,45.6%25%20from%202022%20to%202027. Accessed on January 16th,2024.
• Reliefweb (2020) “How countries are using Edtech including online radio-television texting”. Available at?: https://reliefweb.int/report/austria/how-countries-are-using-edtech-including-online-learning-radio-television-texting. Accessed on January 16th,2024.
• Statista (2024) “Online education worldwide”. Available at?: https://www.statista.com/outlook/dmo/eservices/online-education/worldwide. Accessed on January 16th,2024.
• THE Journal (2023) “How can AI in instructional coaching increase equity”. Available at?: https://thejournal.com/articles/2023/11/15/how-can-ai-in-instructional-coaching-increase-equity.aspx#:~:text=By%20enhancing%20classroom%20observations%2C%20personalizing,have%20equal%20opportunities%20to%20succeed. Accessed on January 16th,2024.

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