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Artificial Intelligence has been used in different industries for years now. In fact, everyone uses some form of AI on a daily basis without realizing it. That being said, Artificial Intelligence in education is not as widespread as it is in some other spheres.
Perhaps, this is because AI education needs more research to help it truly be accepted in wider circles as well as more money to be integrated into different communities. Hence, here are the pros and cons of using AI in education for teachers and schools.
#1 Learning Personalization
Perhaps one of the most obvious benefits of using Artificial Intelligence in education is the ability to personalize the learning process for every student separately. Machine learning is often used in various educational programs and applications that teachers can then use in the classroom. This approach can be particularly useful for larger classes where there are just too many students for a single teacher to keep up with. Classes with younger students can also benefit a lot as such programs will help keep the attention of the students while also providing them with proper education.
#2 Cost and Expenses
The most obvious downside of AI education is the cost and expenses that come along with it. In other words, various Artificial Intelligence solutions are not that cheap. Not everyone will be able to afford them. In fact, most public schools in different countries rely on state funding which means their resources are quite limited. In private schools, there could be more opportunities in theory, but in practice, the situation varies from school to school. If parents are asked to invest in such tech themselves, not everyone will be eager to do so either.
#3 Informational Organization
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A somewhat underrated benefit of AI solutions is the ability to organize all the information. A large part of the learning materials can be accessed in a digital format, so more and more teachers prefer skipping the trips to the library. As Cameron Booker from the proofreading and editing services website Best Writers Online says, “AI and machine learning help online databases to organize information better and faster. For teachers and schools, this means more time and energy that can be directed at other essential matters.”
#4 Absence of Personal Connections
Another disadvantage of Artificial Intelligence that everyone seems to be talking about is the absence of personal connections between the teacher and the students. When AI is used for most of the interactions, the communication between the teacher and the class can be decreased and limited. But these relationships are crucial for the success of a student’s learning journey. Even if the tech can substitute the teaching, it can’t substitute the social aspect of learning.
#5 Immersive Learning
Speaking of learning, Artificial Intelligence can still help to improve it immensely. By using AI in education, the teacher can provide a more immersive learning experience which can help students better understand, process, and remember the information they are learning. For students with ADHD, dyslexia, or simply those who are struggling with their studies, this can give them a huge boost and help them catch up with their peers.
#6 Potential Unemployment
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Something that goes along with the absence of personal connections is the potential risk of unemployment. If AI starts being integrated into schools more actively, this can lead to layoffs as some teachers won’t be as needed as before. As Mila Small from the paper writing service reviews website online Writers Rating puts it, “This is something many experts in education are concerned about. Artificial Intelligence definitely has many benefits – and we are already seeing them as more AI solutions are being integrated! But there is always the risk of them replacing teachers almost completely. It could be a real problem in the future.”
#7 Intelligent Tutoring Systems
Intelligent Tutoring Systems or ITS is not always talked about, but it is actually not a new concept and has been around for quite a while now. Artificial Intelligence has helped polish such systems with Intelligent Moderation already being used for analyzing information better. Such programs can improve the grading system and study schedules by finding patterns that can then be used by teachers and tutors.
#8 Questionable Decision-Making
Artificial Intelligence and machine learning are both still developing, but they are already powerful enough to learn on their own. Indeed, most AI-based educational solutions are able to make smart decisions on their own, but the problem is that their decision-making process is still questionable. In the classroom, a lot of decisions are made intuitively by teachers. They know every student in and out and are able to find a unique approach to everyone. Programs can’t do this – at least, not yet.
#9 Good for Student with Special Needs
As mentioned earlier, students with ADHD and dyslexia can benefit a lot from AI in education, but there is even more to this side of Artificial Intelligence. Students with special needs of all kinds can now get a much better learning experience thanks to various AI solutions. For example, transcribing can be made much easier for students with limited mobility or writing difficulties. This can also help such students to be better integrated into society and be more accepted overall.
#10 The Risk of Informational Loss
Last but not least, there is always the risk of informational loss. If all or almost all the information – from grades to learning materials – is organized digitally with the help of Artificial Intelligence, it can be lost entirely just as quickly. Of course, there are numerous ways that this information can be stored more securely, but the risk of losing it is still there.
Final Thoughts
To sum up, Artificial Intelligence will definitely be evolving in the near future as there is a lot of room for growth. It can already be applied in education, but sparingly. As long as you keep in mind the pros and cons of AI education, integrating it into your own methods should benefit both teachers and students.
