What The Role Of Artificial Intelligence In Learning Is
Whether it’s business, IT companies, financial services or even education, Artificial Intelligence (AI) is being integrated into various industries.
AI’s digital, dynamic nature also offers opportunities for student engagement that cannot be found in often outdated documents or in the fixed environment. In a synergistic fashion, AI has the potential to propel and accelerate the discovery of new learning frontiers and the creation of innovative technologies.
Artificial Intelligence And Learning
Though yet to become a standard cult in organizations and schools, Artificial Intelligence in learning or training has been a "big thing" since AI’s uptick in the 1940s (when the first seeds of AI were sown with programmable computers). In many ways, the 2 seem made for each other. AI’s digital, dynamic nature also offers opportunities for learner engagement that cannot be found in often outdated documents or in the fixed environment.
A recent study from eSchool News discovered that the use of AI in the education industry will grow by 47.5% through 2021. The technology’s impact will exist anywhere from kindergarten through higher education to corporate training, offering the opportunity to create adaptive learning features with personalized tools to improve learners' experience.
Examples Of Artificial Intelligence In Learning
Here are 4 ways AI is changing the learning industry:
1. Smart Learning Content
The concept of smart content is a trendy theme now as AI can create digital content with the same degree of grammatical prowess as their human doppelganger. Smart learning content creation, from digitized guides of textbooks to customizable learning digital interfaces, are being introduced at all levels, from elementary to post-secondary to corporate environments.
One of the ways to use this in an organization is when AI can condense the content in burdening troubleshooting guides into more digestible study guides with troubleshooting steps summary, flashcards, and intelligent simulations.
Smart learning content can also be used to design a digital curriculum and content across a variety of devices, including video, audio, and an online assistant.
2. Intelligent Tutoring Systems
AI can do more than condense a lecture into flashcards and smart study guides as it can also tutor a learner based on the difficulties they’re having. This involves something known as "Mastery Learning". Mastery learning is a set of principles largely tied to the work of Educational Psychologist Benjamin Bloom in the 1970s. This supports the effectiveness of individualized tutoring and instruction in the classroom.
There are now smart tutoring systems that use data from specific learners to give them the feedback and work with them directly. For instance, an Intelligent Tutoring system called "SHERLOCK" is being used to teach Airforce technicians to diagnose electrical system problems in aircraft. Another advanced version of Intelligent Tutoring Systems is avatar-based training modules which were developed by the University of Southern California to train military personnel being sent on international posts.
While this AI application is still in its early stages, it will soon be able to work as a full-fledged digital platform that helps learners with their educational needs in just about any area of need. Also, these platforms will soon be able to adapt to a wide variety of learning styles to help every educator and learner.
3. Virtual Facilitators And Learning Environments
With AI, an actual lecturer may soon be replaced by a robot. Well, not entirely! But there are already virtual human mentors and facilitators that can think and act like humans. But, how does a virtual facilitator think or act like a human?
A new trending technology is known as the "touchless technology" or "gesture recognition technology" gives virtual facilitators the ability to respond or act like humans in a natural way, responding both verbal and nonverbal cues.
Smart learning environments and platforms use AI, 3-D gaming, and computer animation to create realistic virtual characters and social interactions. This initiative includes more than virtual facilitators as Augmented Reality may soon be a part of the training.
4. Content Analytics
Content analytics refers to AI (specifically machine learning) platforms that optimize learning modules. Through AI, content taught to learners can be analyzed for maximum effect and optimized to take care of learners needs. Content analytics enables educators and content providers to not just create and manage their eLearning content, but also gain important insights into learner progress and understanding through a powerful set of analytics.
Paving New Learning Pathways In The Coming Decade
Learning is a domain largely ruled by human-to-human interaction. The assimilation of AI has been slower to develop the necessary human-like attributes of receptivity, versatility, and understanding. Yet, there are plenty of areas where AI’s inherent strengths help fill high-need "gaps" in learning and teaching.
AI’s ability to analyze large amounts of data in real-time and automatically provide new content or specified learning parameters helps meet learners’ need for continual, targeted practice and feedback. This allows teachers or trainers to better understand the learner’s performance and orchestrate more effective personalized learning plans.
Conclusion
To conclude, it is the apparent fear that human educators can or will be replaced by AI technologies in the coming decade. As AI advances in education and training, it seems there is more evidence to support the idea that both intelligent systems and humans are needed to manage different aspects of learners’ academic and social competencies. I feel AI will likely not replace but will serve as a support system to the human expert!
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