A new year is starting to unravel itself. With it, the usual listicles of trends and prognoses about the future of different aspects of our lives are beginning to be abundant. With a focus on education, and instead of going down the usual path of what 2023 could have in store for us, I decided to focus on one aspect that started to make its presence felt and which, most likely, will continue to impact the way we learn and teach. However, there’s a catch to my limitation to one subject article – bear with me. The aspect I have in mind is Artificial Intelligence (AI), the hope, for some, of better and improved learning and the fear, for others, of losing control over aspects that essentially make us humans.

Fears

AI has the potential to disrupt multiple industries and cause considerable shifts in the job market. As AI systems will become more advanced and perform tasks that currently require human labour, unemployment, even in the education market, could soon follow. This will most likely be the case for many administrative positions but can also affect educators.

Further, concerns of ethical and moral nature could also multiply. Unfortunately, the AI can become biased depending on how its algorithms are developed and can perpetuate and multiply discrimination (think about a system that could prevent access to education for students just because it perceives them as having less chance of success because of their social-economic status). AI’s potential to process a large amount of information about students could also lead to problems linked to privacy and data security.

Other worries are linked to the AI’s ability, or lack of it, to understand human complexity (especially picking up subtleties in human interactions) and offer learning solutions that accommodate students with different needs and abilities, a one-size-fits-all option.

Problems of using AI for cheating are also starting to arise, and different systems that help write papers are already being used (though so are the systems that can check if a text is written by an AI or a human too).

Overall, the field of AI is still not fully understood by the general public, and feelings of fear and mistrust are likely to oscillate in their rumours-evidence dance.

Hopes

As in many other situations, the changes in our society are coming not only with their amount of fear and problems but also with their share of opportunities. AI is already employed in various educational scenarios, from virtual tutors and personalized learning platforms to automated grading systems and language translation tools. These tools and systems will probably become more prevalent, especially in academic settings, as AI technology advances.

Although the one-size-fits-all fear can be valid, AI, when correctly set up, can actually increase the way personalized learning is carried out by analyzing considerable amounts of data, identifying patterns and repurposing the content to suit a more individualized approach. Furthermore, in order to keep students engaged and motivated, AI can be utilized to develop adaptive learning systems that can change the difficulty level of the content based on the learner’s success.

Teacher and student support is also one of its advantages, automating specific tasks and providing feedback. As for the potential unemployment triggered by the automation process, it can be seen as transforming and pushing the job market towards developing different types of work functions (think about how specific jobs have been changed in the past by the industrial revolution).

AI combined with other technologies (for example, Virtual or Augmented Reality) can be used to build engaging learning environments and immerse students in lifelike simulations of real-world scenarios, enabling them to learn and apply their knowledge in a secure setting.

Here’s one example in which we paired an avatar of Isaac Newton with AI and gave it life in a virtual environment for students to interact live with:

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How does AI work?

AI systems combine large sets of data with iterative processing algorithms to learn from patterns and features in the data they analyze. Each time an AI system processes data, it tests and measures its performance and develops additional expertise. In other words, it “learns” and tests the most likely answer to a task. It does not foresee the future, nor it’s yet at a level at which we could fear it will overtake the world.

And here’s the catch mentioned at the beginning of this article. To test the potential of AI, I asked one system to write an essay about the future of education. So here it is (with a grain of salt included):

Passing the word to AI on the future of education (text written by AI)

“The future of education is a topic of much speculation and debate, with many people wondering what changes and advancements may be in store for students and educators in the coming years. There are a number of trends that are already beginning to shape the future of education, and it is likely that these trends will continue to evolve and develop over time. Some of the most significant trends that are likely to shape the future of education include the increasing use of technology, the rise of online learning, and the shift towards more personalized and experiential learning.

One of the most significant trends in the future of education is the increasing use of technology. This trend is already well underway, with many schools and universities incorporating technology into their classrooms and curricula. This trend is likely to continue in the coming years, with more and more schools and universities incorporating digital tools and resources into their teaching and learning processes. These tools and resources may include everything from interactive whiteboards and tablets to virtual reality headsets and online learning platforms.

The rise of online learning is another trend that is likely to shape the future of education. Online learning has become increasingly popular in recent years, with more and more people taking advantage of the flexibility and convenience of this mode of education. This trend is likely to continue in the coming years, with more and more schools and universities offering online courses and programs. This trend is likely to be driven by the increasing demand for flexible and convenient learning options, as well as the growing recognition of the value of online education.

In addition to the increasing use of technology and the rise of online learning, the future of education is also likely to be shaped by a shift towards more personalized and experiential learning. This trend is being driven by a recognition of the need to tailor education to the individual needs and learning preferences of students. As a result, it is likely that we will see an increasing emphasis on personalized learning plans and experiential learning opportunities, such as internships and apprenticeships. This shift towards more personalized and experiential learning is likely to be supported by the use of technology, with digital tools and resources being used to support the creation of personalized learning plans and to facilitate experiential learning opportunities.

Another trend that is likely to shape the future of education is the increasing focus on skills-based learning. In an increasingly competitive and rapidly changing job market, there is a growing recognition of the need for students to develop a wide range of skills in order to be successful. As a result, it is likely that we will see an increasing emphasis on skills-based learning in the future, with a greater focus on practical, hands-on learning experiences that help students develop the skills that are most in demand in the job market.

Finally, the future of education is likely to be shaped by a growing focus on social and emotional learning. There is increasing evidence that social and emotional skills are just as important as academic skills when it comes to long-term success and well-being. As a result, it is likely that we will see an increasing emphasis on the development of social and emotional skills in the classroom, with schools and educators focusing on the importance of things like empathy, emotional intelligence, and social skills.

Overall, the future of education is likely to be shaped by a number of trends, including the increasing use of technology, the rise of online learning, the shift towards more personalized and experiential learning, the focus on skills-based learning, and the emphasis on social and emotional learning. These trends are likely to continue to evolve and develop over time, and it will be interesting to see how they shape the way that students learn and the way that educators teach in the coming years.”

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Author:
Doru Lupeanu

Marketing Director @KnowledgeOne. Strategist. Movie scriptwriter. Transylvanian. Fanatic anime consumer.