Artificial Intelligence (AI) has been a controversial topic, what with the release of movies like Ex Machina and the recent developments in humanoid creation. Many individuals fear the long-term impact of AI, believing that it could eventually replace and even destroy human life. However, AI certainly has the potential to be used in a positive and constructive way to complement and enhance the lives of human beings. This is true of education, where the usage and benefits of AI are beginning to take shape.
The education sector is extremely complex and diverse. It is incredibly difficult to be able to meet the needs of every single learner in the classroom, and it is nearly impossible to provide the proper staffing and support needed to serve each and every learner. One way in which AI can benefit education is through virtual mentorship. A virtual mentor is always available, can be tailored to meet a learner’s specific requirements, and can provide a number of virtual tools that allow the learner to continually improve his or her skills even outside of the classroom. A virtual mentor is also a major cost-saver for education systems, many of which can barely afford to hire physical teachers and mentors. Further, a virtual mentor has the ability to store information and continually assess a learner’s abilities, and is therefore able to challenge the learner and set goals based on their progress.
Because AI has the ability to mimic human behavior and qualities, it can be used to help teach learners important life skills beyond the books. AI can help assist with things like collaboration, self-guided learning, and problem solving. Traditional methods of education simply do not cover all that is needed to survive and thrive in today’s world. Also, with the increased usage of personal devices, learners are spending more and more time with their heads down, isolated from their peers. This leaves a huge gap in their educational experience, and doesn’t prepare them for the professional world, where, in most cases, they are expected to be part of a team. AI can help fill the gap by creating life-like scenarios and assessing a learner’s physical and emotional response to each of them.
AI also has another very important benefit: it makes learning more accessible and increases connectivity. With the rising cost of education and a lack of resources, virtual learning is an excellent alternative that can be made available to anyone, anywhere. With the help of AI, all virtual classrooms can be equipped with the proper virtual mentors and tools needed to facilitate learning. AI can also be seamlessly integrated with MOOCs and online education to further improve the quality and experience.
While AI may seem daunting, and even scary according to Ex Machina’s portrayal, it has the potential to do a lot of good, especially in education. And since we’ve only just begun to unveil this potential, we can expect to see major developments in AI for the education sector in the next few years.
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