With all the ways that digital technology is improving the world, it’s worth noting how much of a change is happening in teaching and schools. What once was a strict brick-and-mortar, lecture-based learning regimen has evolved to include in-home learning with a flexible, multi-channel way of teaching. Within that scope of digital teaching comes AI, or Artificial Intelligence.
What Is Artificial Intelligence?
Many of us deal with and interact with AI on a regular basis, we just may not realize it. Artificial Intelligence is basically the intelligence of non-animal beings, such as machines. Many people hear AI and think of robots overtaking the world, but AI can be much simpler than that, while also still being intelligent. Every time you tell Alexa to add something to your grocery list, that’s using AI. Every time you search the web or get “recommended for you” through certain websites, that’s AI.
Teaching and AI
So how does this all connect back to teaching? For the most part, Artificial Intelligence is gaining traction in teaching not through the act of giving lectures, but through data collection and analysis. AI is quickly reorganizing testing data, automating the results for teachers. This is a huge time saver for teachers and allows them to see progression and regression faster in students. AI can help both teachers and students track their progress throughout the school year, and help them see where they may falter or succeed in certain areas.
Artificial intelligence can also affect the classroom and teaching. With the use of AI, teachers can create digital learning platforms that make it possible for students to access and complete coursework anywhere. This can greatly impact students who are trying to do more in-home learning but lack the capability of accessing their schoolwork.
Accessibility
Of course, with all the luster and general ease AI can bring to a teacher’s life, comes the hardship of accessibility. Some schools simply can’t afford the tools and AI necessary to bring such platforms and testing to life. This may be a small percentage of schools, but the fact remains that any type of technology usually comes with a price tag, and of course a learning curve of it’s own!
Katie Kyzivat