Artificial Intelligence (AI) has come a long way in the last couple of years.
It is not just a simple tool anymore. It is now a system that is bringing about revolutionary changes in many industries.
It has impacted the education industry more than we could ever imagine.
From automating administrative tasks to providing customized learning experiences, AI is opening doors to new possibilities even as we speak.
With that said…
In this article, we will explore the good, the bad, and the ugly sides of AI’s impact on education.
We’ll also discuss how to solve some of the issues that the integration of AI in education can introduce. Also, learn about the SMU Acceptance Rate by reading this article.
The Good: Personalization and Accessibility
Personalized Learning Experiences
Artificial Intelligence programs can be pretty flexible and adaptable in creating very custom learning experiences for students.
By simply analyzing the student’s data within its grasp, AI can tailor the curriculum of each student based on their needs, learning styles, and speed.
While it may not be able to write projects or research papers due to its current limitations, it can pretty much aid in research and provide other kinds of help to the students.
DID YOU KNOW?
The global AI in education market is expected to grow from $2.5 billion in 2022 to $23.82 billion by 2030.
Enhanced Accessibility
It can also be very accessible, especially for students with disabilities.
It can easily transcribe lectures, provide text-to-speech notes, and more.
Also, it can even skirt through the language barriers by providing notes to the students in their native language so that they can understand the lectures more in-depth.
By creating an accessible and inclusive educational environment, artificial intelligence can provide educational resources to a wider range of learners from across the globe.
The Bad: Data Privacy Concerns and Dependence
Data Privacy and Security Risks
Just like Ben Parker from Spiderman said…
“With great power comes great responsibility”
And AI is no exception.
An AI program relies heavily on extensive data collection.
And that can be especially concerning when we put sensitive student information like academic records, health records, and other personal data into the mix.
These kinds of data can be pretty vulnerable to breaches if not protected properly.
The need for ironclad privacy policies and secure data handling is in much more demand now than ever before.
If these kinds of security measures are not implemented properly, they can easily overshadow the positive things that Artificial Intelligence can bring to the education industry.
Dependence on Technology
The more we depend on AI for educational purposes, the more concerns come to light.
Being highly dependent on AI can have a major impact on the student’s critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
It becomes necessary for us to create a balance in the use of AI with activities that can stimulate the thought and problem-solving skills of students.
The Ugly: Bias and Inequality
Inherent Biases in AI
As advanced as AI is, it is not immune to biases.
It is heavily dependent on data to make educational decisions.
And if the data itself is biased towards certain demographics and other prejudices, it can easily amplify these biases and teach them to the students.
It, therefore, becomes necessary for us to train the AI systems used in education and check that any data we provide to it is not biased or prejudiced.
Exacerbating Educational Inequalities
Implementing AI in institutions can be pretty expensive.
Institutions with well-funded resources and technology can easily adapt it into their systems, while those that can barely afford traditional resources may struggle to implement it.
This can very easily create inequalities between the rich and the poor.
This necessitates the need for proper policies in the allocation of resources for poorer institutions to be on par with their wealthier counterparts.
Navigating the Challenges
Setting Standards and Policies
The inclusion of AI in education necessitates the need for more well-thought-out standards and policies.
Educators as well as policymakers need to work together to come up with clear guidelines for the use of AI.
This can ensure that its use supports fair and unbiased educational opportunities for all students.
These policies can also manage how the personal data of the students is governed and protected.
They can also conduct regular analyses of AI’s educational impact and adjust their strategies to ensure a more well-thought-out and effective learning experience for the students.
The global forecast of artificial intelligence in the education market (2020-2028).
Ensuring Academic Integrity
Maintaining integrity is very important in the field of education.
With AI writing tools flooding the market, the need for an AI checker/detector can be very significant.
They can easily detect any plagiarised and AI-generated content very easily.
This can force the students to make an effort to do their fair share in their projects and research papers.
Promoting Digital Literacy
Digital literacy can be pretty useful for teachers and students.
They must understand the need for AI tools, their inner workings, and their implications in the field of education.
Critical Skills for Educators and Students
The educators need to be trained in the many AI tools they would be using.
Also, the students need to learn how to assess the outputs the AI gives out and use it ethically while still maintaining their data privacy.
Recognizing AI Limitations
Artificial intelligence programs are still very limited in nature.
These tools should be used as aids rather than the solutions to a problem.
Adapting to Change
AI will continue to evolve.
We should also continue to adapt to its changes to maintain our efficiency.
Conclusion
AI’s impact on the education industry can be like opening a Pandora’s box.
It can either bring forth disaster or it can be filled with wonder and awe.
While we stand to gain much from it, we also need to address the ethical, privacy, and security issues associated with it.
