Teacher and AI collaboration
Augmented Intelligence (AI) has already been applied to education primarily in some tools that help develop skills and testing systems. As AI educational solutions continue to mature, the hope is that AI can help fill needs gaps in learning and teaching and allow schools and teachers to do more than ever before. AI can drive efficiency, personalization and streamline admin tasks to allow teachers the time and freedom to provide understanding and adaptability uniquely human capabilities where machines would struggle. By leveraging the best attributes of machines and teachers, the vision for AI in education is one where they work together for the best outcome for students. Since the students of today will need to work in a future where AI is the reality, it is important that our educational institutions expose students to and use the technology.
Differentiated and individualized learning
Adjusting learning based on an individual student particular needs has been a priority for educators for years, but AI will allow a level of differentiation that is impossible for teachers who have to manage 30 students in each class. There are several companies such as Content Technologies and Carnegie Learning currently developing intelligent instruction design and digital platforms that use AI to provide learning, testing and feedback to students from pre-K to college level that gives them the challenges they are ready for, identifies gaps in knowledge and redirects to new topics when appropriate. 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 curriculum for every student's needs is not viable today, but it will be for AI-powered machines.
Universal access for all students
Augmented intelligence tools can help make global classrooms available to all including those who speak different languages or who might have visual or hearing impairments. Presentation Translator is a free plug-in for PowerPoint that creates subtitles in real time for what the teacher is saying. This also opens up possibilities for students who might not be able to attend school due to illness or who require learning at a different level or on a particular subject that is not available in their own school. AI can help break down silos between schools and between traditional grade levels.
Education Effectiveness Monitoring
Scoring model, neurofeedback and neurostimulation let to measure and adjust brain attention and focus level of students during education process by using EEG-biosensors and tDCS-stimulators. The Effectiveness Tracker shows current focus level of students and effectiveness as 6 different color-coded levels, and provides a session report for teacher, which includes a time plot of education effectiveness for the duration of remote study. When you are effective, you can absorb more and retain more. If you are not effective, try changing your learning method, switching to a different task, or taking a rest. The Effective Learner module uses a NeuroSky's brainwave sensing headset to detect your learning effectiveness and show it as 6 different color coded levels, so you can gauge your effectiveness with a quick glance.
Our brains are made up of billions of tiny brain cells, called neurons. When we learn something new, some of the neurons fire together. New wiring will grow between them so they become connected together. The next time when one of the neurons fires, all the other connected neurons will also fire. This is how you learn to speak a new language, dribble a basketball, and everything else. You must pay high attention during learning so the right neurons fire at the same time and get wired together. The strength of this new wiring depends on how deep an impression the learning experience left you with. Even a deep negative impression can create strong wiring. Weak impression leads to weak wiring, which is easily overwritten and forgotten. In that case, you will have to strengthen the wiring with repetition to retain the learning.
Automate admin tasks
An educator spends a tremendous 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. Although machines can already grade multiple-choice tests, they are very close to being able to assess written responses as well. As AI steps in to automate admin tasks, it opens up more time for teachers to spend with each student. There is much potential for AI to create more efficient enrollment and admissions processes.
Tutoring and support outside the classroom
Ask any parent who has struggled to help their teenager with algebra, and they will be very excited about the potential of AI to support their children when they are struggling at home with homework or test preparations. Tutoring and studying programs are becoming more advanced thanks to augmented intelligence, and soon they will be more available and able to respond to a range of learning styles. There are many more AI applications for education that are being developed including AI mentors for learners, further development of smart content and a new method of personal development for educators through virtual global conferences. Education might be a bit slower to the adoption of augmented intelligence and machine learning, but the changes are beginning and will continue.