Educators today are facing a growing challenge: teachers are buried under administrative tasks, while students are stuck in a standardised learning environment, often leaving them unprepared for the modern workplace.
Could artificial intelligence be the game-changer education needs?
The AI in education market is rapidly expanding valued at $3.99 billion in 2023, it’s projected to hit $21.13 billion by 2028, growing at an impressive CAGR of nearly 40%.
AI has the potential to streamline teachers’ workloads by automating administrative duties, freeing up time for meaningful student engagement. It can also craft personalised learning materials tailored to individual preferences and needs, even considering disabilities. With AI, each student could be paired with a virtual mentor for additional guidance.
However, fear of the unknown is evident; some educators are apprehensive, and schools have even considered banning AI in classrooms. There are certainly challenges, from ethical concerns to implementation barriers, but when approached thoughtfully, AI can revolutionise education.
AI is transforming education by enabling personalised learning, reducing teacher workload, and increasing accessibility. Here's how:
1. Personalised Learning: AI offers tailored content based on a student's learning pace, disabilities, and background. It helps create personalised learning plans and can even adjust the content based on skills already mastered. This trend is transforming corporate training as well, with custom programs that adapt to individual employee needs.
2. Practical Training and Up-skilling: AI-powered tools like chatbots and interactive apps help students gain hands-on experience and soft skills in a comfortable, stress-free way. In Africa, Kabakoo Academies uses AI mentors to up-skill freelancers, increasing learners' incomes by 44%.
3. Supporting TeachersAI reduces burnout by automating tedious tasks like lesson planning and student assessment. Tools like TeachMateAI assist teachers with administrative work, freeing up more time for direct student engagement.
4. Exam Supervision and AssessmentAI helps grade standardised tests, analyse learning patterns, and assist teachers in identifying at-risk students. It also enables secure remote proctoring using facial recognition and browser monitoring to prevent cheating.
5. AccessibilityAI tools like translation software and speech-to-text services make education accessible to remote areas and students with disabilities, ensuring a more inclusive learning environment.
So, how do we integrate AI safely and effectively? What does this mean for the future of education?
According to Brent Gleeson, Forbes.com contributor: "as we stand on the brink of the fourth industrial revolution - integrating artificial intelligence (AI) into leadership and talent development - continuous learning represents an unprecedented opportunity. Tailored learning, real-time feedback, mentorship, and easily accessible tools for growth continue to be the core drivers of engagement and retention. Employee engagement has extremely tangible business and people outcomes, nothing new to report here. It has been shown to lead to an 81% reduction in absenteeism, a 10-25% increase in customer loyalty, and most importantly, a 23% increase in profitability. High engagement rates also signal that employees feel satisfied with and energised by their work experience and development opportunities."
The Future of Education and Talent in the AI era panel at Fair Barcelona 2024 tried to answer some of these dilemmas and to offer a future-proof perspective.
Moderated by Roxana Marin - Communication Director Fair Cultures and featuring Katrina Walker (Chief Executive Officer, CodeOP) and Xavier Domínguez (AI & Education Specialist, Fab Lab Barcelona), the panel explored the frontiers of AI and Talent. The discussions were not just informative, but truly revelatory, projecting us into a future where technology is reshaping learning and development.
Dig deeper in the filmed version below.
Some of the takeaways from the 2 guest panelists:
We are definitely not ready to use all AI tools and systems in education nowadays
Now we are trying to understand the ethical implications and impact of AI in the learning process
For the first time in many years, we are hearing more and more people talking about future-proofing their careers
Learning is a social process, we learn together; AI tools can support teachers to avoid the birocratic aspects of their job and personalise the diversity of their classroom
AI could offer students superpowers especially with creativity. Teachers could become more like facilitators.
There will always be a push of incorporating the new technology before we are ready for it, so we should temperate a bit this process
Critical thinking is essential when we develop AI systems
Human objectives and cultivating an ethical ethos are important in designing AI tools and systems
Future will be more social, more inclusive, more democratic and more real, grounded
AI helps us become more efficient, but we shouldn't fill that time with more work but with more sustainability
For more insights from Fair Barcelona 2024, read founder Oana Iordachescu message.
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