AI in education. Will it replace teachers?

The potential promise for applying artificial intelligence in education to improve learning, support educators, and provide more successful personalized learning is exciting but also daunting. To start the article on a good note, we have to get past the idea that computers and robots will teach our kids, replace teachers, and remove the human part from what is, at its core.

Some assert that artificial intelligence has many advantages and, to recapitulate, it categorizes as follows:

Test students’ prior knowledge to differentiate the lesson to cater to students’ abilities and need.

Assessing students’ work even generates data on student performance and more abstract tests like essays

Students are more cautious about taking chances in front of educators and peers. They are afraid of receiving negative feedback in such a public setting. With AI, students may feel safe making the required mistakes for learning and receiving the feedback they require for development.

Artificial intelligence can identify instructional gaps in course content based on student performance on tests. For example, if a substantial proportion of students incorrectly answer a question, AI can focus on the exact facts or concepts that students are lacking, allowing educators to make targeted changes in materials and approaches.

 

The flip side is even without AI, we as educators have the power to do these things; what they ignore or refuse to acknowledge is how people willingly spend so much time, money, and effort on gadgets they cannot use rather than investing in educators.

Prior knowledge assessment should have been performed in the first place; teaching students something they already know or in a manner, they cannot comprehend is like beating a dead horse.

If educators shy away from grading, observing, and assessing students, they should consider looking for a different career. We have a variety of ways to assess, and as an educator, I have every right to say that essays are not the most abstract thing we need to evaluate.

In addition to the numerous hypotheses that these assessments cannot be translated into numbers, there are numerous factors to consider when evaluating students’ progress.

Self-assurance is a positive attitude that enables individuals to confront the environment or situation and is essential for effective communication. Students’ confidence will improve as a result of practice. Removing students’ capacity to practice by accommodating them with artificial intelligence will hinder their development. Growth is never simple, but it is essential.

Observations made during class activities and tests are more effective for identifying knowledge deficits. Students’ behaviour (e.g., hesitancy, rushing, lack of eye contact) provides information about what they know and how you can challenge them without overwhelming them in the next lesson. In addition to knowing the topic being covered, it is equally essential to understand your student’s abilities so that you can adapt your instruction if some are struggling. Others, however, are prepared for more complex material.

I believe Artificial Intelligence is an ideal educational instrument, but it will never be able to replace teachers, personal experience, morale, empathy, capacity to reflect and compassion. Before we all race to invest in Artificial intelligence, we should ask ourselves why? And instead of investing in a tool, we should invest in people who are clearly significantly superior to Artificial Intelligence.