Artificial Intelligence: Implications for Education and Learning

Artificial Intelligence: Implications for Education and Learning
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April 18, 2023
Artificial Intelligence: Implications for Education and Learning
Artificial intelligence (AI) is one of the emerging educational technology that has and will continue to affect teaching and learning processes in higher education in the near future. According to the 2022 EDUCAUSE Horizon Report, AI entails developing machines or software that can do things by applying human cognition (Pelletier et al., 2022). For instance, computer scientists can come up with a robot that uses machine learning to guide students on the right procedures to use in performing a specific experiment. AI has been ubiquitous not only in learning, but also in people’s homes, social spaces, entertainment, and workplaces. Indeed, it helps individuals to connect with each other and can predict their behaviors by gathering and analyzing the information readily available on social media. For instance, currently, social media platforms, such as Facebook, record and analyze people’s preferences and behaviors so that they can suggest products, friends, populate news feeds, and give individuals personalized experiences (Pelletier et al., 2022). Since AI has become inevitable in people’s daily lives, this emerging technology can be used to improve teaching and learning in higher education.
AI significantly influences the global economy and society. The most significant thing about AI is its human-like cognition capabilities, which facilitate reasoning, learning, interaction, and understanding of technical processes. Notably, the application of AI has transformed contemporary society. For example, Siri is a smartphone smart assistant that helps users to perform numerous tasks, including managing individual contacts and messages (Szczepanski, 2019). Tesla vehicles have software that enables them to get connected and learn from each other to enhance their effectiveness in self-driving. Based on a 2019 report by Accenture that focused on 12 developed economies, which together generate over 0.5% of the global economic output, AI might double the yearly international economic growth rates by 2035 (Szczepanski, 2019). In particular, AI facilitates the application of innovative technologies that foster efficient and effective workforce-related time management, leading to increased labor productivity. The global economy is benefiting from the faster diffusion of innovation, creating new revenue streams that never existed. Additionally, AI promotes intelligence automation by enhancing the creation of a virtual workforce. Some companies are using AI tools to hire highly skilled and talented employees regardless of their geographical locations since Internet accessibility has improved in different parts of the world.
Currently, numerous AI tools are already in use in various sectors, including education, transport, medicine, and manufacturing. Some of the common examples of AI that individuals are using today include chatting bots, ChatGPT, Microsoft Bing, Grammarly, Netflix and Facebook recommendation algorithms, Google Assistant, facial recognition, Siri, Alexa, Cortana, Google Maps, and adaptive charging (Fitria, 2021). Moreover, many vehicles manufactured after 2018 have radar systems for collision detection and an auto parking feature. Computer programmers today are no longer required to develop apps from scratch since there are various platforms they can use to make their work easier. Scikit Learn is a go-to library that facilitates feature extraction, learning algorithm, and cross-validation among others. In addition, TensorFlow is a Python-friendly open-source library by Google that can enhance faster numerical computation. In other terms, AI tools are already available and multiple of them are being launched every day to promote the accuracy and effectiveness of human daily activities. For example, smartwatches are available that enable individuals to record data about their health and transmit it to their smartphones. Additionally, smart fridges and other electronic gadgets and appliances are being used in the digital era.
Specifically, the application of AI is beneficial in higher education and promotes effective teaching and learning. The technology can also be applied in multiple realms of individuals’ lives. Traditionally, students were taught various things theoretically since there were no multiple effective experiments and simulations to capture course objectives. Today, AI enables them to engage in immersive learning, where they can see, interact, and experience numerous things. For instance, learners can use simulations to see how a specific procedure is done or how they should address complex situations in their careers. AI can enhance student performance since it provides automated and real-time feedback to learners as they engage in various learning activities and completion of their assignments (Pelletier et al., 2022). For example, virtual writing assistants are AI tools that help students to improve their writing and reading skills by providing crucial suggestions and comments based on the course objectives or given guidelines. In that light, AI can offer customized learning experiences for learners and facilitate the adjustment of curricula, teaching pedagogies, assessments, and learning resources to meet each student’s academic preferences and needs (Pelletier et al., 2022). Proper integration of AI tools in learning and teaching can facilitate the creation of more realistic environments to improve student’s learning outcomes. For example, AI can help medical students to participate in virtual environments, where they can have authentic interactions with virtual patients to promote effective learning. Moreover, responsive and intelligent simulations can be used in learners’ training to perform their duties in high-stress settings to improve their critical thinking and decision-making under pressure in real-world resembling scenarios.
When it comes to education technology, Artificial Intelligence in Education (AIEd) is an emerging field. Many higher education institutions have implemented several AI tools to facilitate learn...