The Effects of AI in Education

The current education system needed a change for a while so the current pandemic just sped up the process of rethinking how we should educate the future generation, and make sure they are ready for a post-COVID-19 world.

According to a Dell Technologies report, 85% of the jobs in 2030 that Generation Z and Alpha will enter into have not been invented yet. Furthermore, the World Economic Forum report states that 65% of primary school children today will be working in job types that do not exist yet. These jobs will mainly consist of AI-based jobs as our world moves towards integrating AI into our everyday life. Current and future students need to be educated to both use AI and to learn the ethical principles for AI. The current pandemic raises the point of how there is no longer such a thing as isolated issues or actions, this emphasises the importance of collaborative work and being able to work with people who are in a different side of the globe.

In the past, teachers were looked as the main source of knowledge and you would go to them for help whenever needed. This notion is no longer fit for the purpose of a 21st-century education because due to the internet, knowledge regarding any topic is easily accessible now. Moving forward, the teacher’s role should move more towards facilitating young people’s development as contributing members of society. Traits such as resilience and adaptability are becoming essential if one wanted to navigate effectively through this pandemic and possible future pandemics.

Even though most experts believe the critical presence of teachers is irreplaceable, there will be many changes to a teacher’s job and to educational best practices. Adjusting learning based on an individual student’s particular needs has been a priority for educators for years, but AI will allow a level of differentiation that’s impossible for teachers who have to manage 30 students in each class. AI can take over from a teacher when the student needs specific individual help but the teacher is unable to provide because they are handling 29 other kids.

As AI gets more sophisticated, it might be possible for a machine to read the expression that passes on a student's face that indicates they are struggling to grasp a subject and will modify a lesson to respond to that. The idea of customizing teaching for every student's needs is not viable today, but it will be for AI-powered machines. A teacher spends a large amount of time grading homework and tests. AI can step in and make quick work out of these tasks while at the same time offering recommendations for how to close the gaps in learning

References:

Marr, B. (2020). How Is AI Used In Education -- Real World Examples Of Today And A Peek Into The Future. Retrieved 3 June 2020, from https://www.forbes.com/sites/bernardmarr/2018/07/25/how-is-ai-used-in-education-real-world-examples-of-today-and-a-peek-into-the-future/#50309043586e

Luthra, P. (2020). 4 ways COVID-19 could change how we educate future generations. Retrieved 3 June 2020, from https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2020/03/4-ways-covid-19-education-future-generations/