The Role of Artificial Intelligence in the Future of Education – Prof (Dr) Jasim Mohammad

The concept of artificial intelligence is a reality today. The once distant concept was reserved for research laboratories and science fiction, but now exists in classrooms, universities, libraries, homes, and mobile phones of students around the world. Education systems around the globe are undergoing a transformation due to technology and changing what knowledge, teaching, creativity, and human potential mean. Discussion surrounding the topic of “AI for Education” and “AI in Education” concerns the future of humanity.

When people say “AI for Education,” they are referring to using artificial intelligence for improving educational systems, enhancing access to education, supporting teachers, and enhancing the Learning Environment. On the other hand, when one speaks of “AI in Education,” they are speaking to the actual integration of AI tools into classrooms, Learning Methods, Administration, Assessments, and Students’ Learning Experiences. These two areas will create a transformative force that can change education in a way that no other innovation has since the invention of the printing press.

As human civilization progressed throughout history, education has continued to advance through each generation. Gurukuls morphed into Libraries; blackboards evolved into Digital Classrooms; and all of it resulted from new and innovative tools available for improving the learning process. Artificial Intelligence makes up the next evolution in that story, except that Artificial Intelligence has the capability of analyzing, personalizing, predicting, assisting, and self-improving continuously.

AI has enabled learning to become more personalized, which was historically more challenging to accomplish in a traditional classroom environment where every learner learns differently. Some students learn a concept quickly and feel confident about it, while others may require repetition and assistance to learn the same concept. By harnessing the adaptive capabilities of AI technology, education systems will be able to customize their approach for each individual learner’s pace of learning, strengths and weaknesses. For example, a student who is struggling with math could be provided with specific practice opportunities, or another student who is advanced in science could be provided with advanced challenges. AI will enhance education to be more humane by providing learners with recognition for their individual learning paths.

Teachers spend a significant amount of their time completing administrative functions, such as paperwork, grading, attendance tracking, reports, and repetitive tasks. AI technology will reduce the number of administrative functions for teachers and provide them with more free time for working with students on other areas. Reducing the time teachers are performing routine tasks increases the time they can spend on tasks that positively impact student development, such as mentoring, creative thinking, emotional support, and intellectual growth. While AI will not replace teachers, the use of technology should free up teachers to be more successful educators and mentors.

The classroom of the future will be an environment where student interact and experience learning through various forms of immersive and experiential learning, to include: simulations, intelligent tutor systems, and real-time feedback mechanisms. Instead of only memorizing dates in history class, students will be able to experience entire civilizations and historical events through AI power technology. Science experiments will also be simulated and able to be done in a safe and more frequent manner.

Democratizing education through AI is one of the most revolutionary impacts of artificial intelligence. Millions of learners throughout the world are at risk for educational disadvantages because there are significant inequities in terms of quality teachers or access to educational resources both in rural as well as economically disadvantaged areas. The continued development of AI powered educational platforms has the potential to solve these issues by making high quality educational resources available in geographically isolated areas. A student in a small village could have access to the same type of educational guidance found elsewhere in the world using intelligent digital platforms.

AI has also shown considerable promise to support inclusive education. Many students with disabilities are prevented from accessing their education because of traditional obstacles to learning. The use of AI tools to convert text to audio, convert speech to text, provide visual assistance, and create personalised accessibility features has made it possible for education to be both compassionate and inclusive and not have a learner excluded due to challenges of a physical or cognitive nature.

The development of generative AI tools has also changed the nature of creativity and research. Today’s students are able to explore their own creativity and/or conduct research by providing brainstorming, summarising complex concepts, improving their language skills, and gaining insight to interdisciplinary knowledge far more efficiently than ever before. Critics of AI often express concern that artificial intelligence will limit human thought. However, the real challenge does not lie with the AI itself, but rather with the manner in which society chooses to employ it. When implemented effectively, AI can promote curiosity rather than destroy it.

As educational providers across the globe continue to implement AI systems in their classrooms, they also must acknowledge that using AI systems is not a quick-fix solution to meet the needs of today’s students. Unregulated technology, including artificial intelligence, has the potential to cause harm and may result in negative outcomes. Schools must work toward providing full, transparent, equitable, and bias-free AI systems. In addition, schools must educate students about their responsibility toward digital.

It requires a complete redesign of the existing curricula in schools to incorporate technology effectively into student learning. Memorization as a means of learning is losing relevance in an age when students can instantaneously access information. The future workforce will include individuals with skills such as critical thinking, creativity, problem solving, communication, emotional intelligence, adaptability, and resilience. To prepare for this new workforce, educational systems must evolve from being primarily information-based systems to being primarily wisdom-based systems.

AI can also provide a new means of evaluating student performance. Traditional forms of assessment primarily measure recall of information, but assessments using AI technology provide an opportunity to evaluate how well students understand the material. AI-based assessments can provide a great deal of important information about a student’s level of conceptual understanding, learning patterns, creativity, and application of knowledge. Additionally, assessments using AI can allow students to receive continuous feedback for improvement based on their performance, thus minimizing anxiety related to assessments; growth, not stress, is the goal of education.

In this time of artificial intelligence, teachers need continuous training. Many teachers fear technology, believing it threatens their profession, however, if teachers have the right digital skills, they can be empowered by AI technology and have the chance to use it as their best resource. Therefore, teacher training programs must offer AI literacy, digital pedagogy, and ethical use of technology.

Universities are also beginning a new age in research methodologies due to AI-driven data analysis tools. Large amounts of data can be processed in minutes, and collaboration among students and researchers can occur from all over the world using AI-supported platforms. Thus, the knowledge of the world is continuing to expand at an incredible rate.

Another huge aspect of AI is the preservation of languages and the ability to educate in multiple languages. Educational content can be translated into many different languages today through AI systems, thus making education more accessible. Countries with diverse languages will receive tremendous advantages from AI-based educational translation systems. There should never be barriers to education due to languages being barriers to knowledge.

Additionally, AI can be used to detect problems that may lead a student to fail in school early in their education. Intelligent systems can analyse a student’s pattern of performance and identify potential indicators of learning disabilities, stress and disengagement. By allowing for earlier intervention and assistance, many students will avoid academic failure and hence develop many emotional and physical problems. Therefore, the education system will be proactive instead of reactive.

There is a deeper meaning to the relationship between AI and education than simply its technological aspect, it’s rooted in philosophy. Traditionally, education has been about preparing people for what lies ahead. Now we find ourselves creating educational systems that will prepare students for living alongside intelligent machines. This means that educators must find a way to balance the technical proficiency of AI with the values of being human. Although machines can process information more efficiently, unique traits such as imagination, compassion, morality and empathy are still part of what makes us human.

Equally important is the growing need to teach students what AI actually is, rather than allowing this subject to remain shrouded in mystery as many experts view it. Students will benefit from an understanding of how algorithms function, the impact of data upon our lives and behaviour, and how digital technologies affect society as a whole. While literacy is already indicative of someone’s ability to adopt and thrive amidst technological advances, developing the ability to think critically about AI will be associated with producing productive citizens today and in the future.

The economic impact of AI in education is significant and extends beyond purely technical aspects. The demand for new skill sets will lead to entirely new industries in the future. While automation could lead to job displacement through repetitive task elimination, it will also result in the creation of new types of jobs that require more creativity or adaptability than traditional jobs did. Therefore, institutions providing educational services will need to prepare their students for tomorrow’s job opportunities rather than the historical nature of employment.

There are significant crossings of cultures between AI and Education. Education is not just about learning how to acquire the knowledge you will need for your career and the skills that go along with that, but it is also about teaching you the things you should value as a person or student; such as: identity, culture, custom, and forming a good character. Thus, the application of Artificial Intelligence must support the culture and wisdom of the community rather than erase it. It is possible to achieve harmony between the use of Technology and the traditional wisdom of cultures if the use of technology is approached with carefully consideration.

There is a lot of excitement around Artificial Intelligence (AI) right now, however, we need to avoid becoming completely dependent on it as a society. Students should still learn how to be independent thinkers, conduct their own research, communicate their thoughts through debate, and build confidence in their own intellect. Artificial Intelligence will enhance human intelligence and not diminish their desire to learn.

The best education systems are those that successfully combine the latest advancements in technology (AI) and humanistic practices and philosophies.

Educational leaders need to have a vision and courage in order to be successful in their leadership role in an AI driven world. The key players – government officials, universities, schools, technology companies, and the civil sector – need to collaboratively work together to develop alternative policies that are creative, promote innovative practices and maintain ethical standards. In order to achieve an environmentally sustainable model that transforms education, we must invest in new digital infrastructures, secure cyber security systems, provide professional development for our teachers, and conduct research related to educational productivity.

The educational future of AI will not be confined only to schools or areas where elite students attend. The true measure of success for AI in education will be whether or not each and every child receives an education and whether or not they have the tools to succeed. Technology can only be meaningful when it empowers everybody around the world. The vision should be to establish an intelligent society through education.

While the classrooms of the future will likely have state-of-the-art technologies like intelligent systems and digital assistants, ultimately, education is and will always be based upon the human element. Teachers will continue to provide motivation and encouragement; students will be excited to learn new things and society will continue to support all forms of education. Education will change as a result of the advent of Al likely changing the tools of teaching; however, education will continue to be based upon human creativity and desire for learning.

(Author is Professor in Comparative Literature and Chairman Centre for NaMo Studies (CNMS) Email : profjasimmd@gmail.com )