8 Uses of AI in Education

Human rights activist Malcolm X said education is our passport to the future.

But our passport seems a bit outdated. In a world where technology development is jaw-dropping, our educational model is 200 years old.

Luckily, there's hope that artificial intelligence improves human intelligence. AI in education is already producing radical transformations at breakneck speed.

Here's' how. 👇

How useful is AI in education?

The full impact of AI in education hasn't been revealed yet. But there's very little about education that AI cannot enhance since it can influence teaching and learning. Using big data, machine learning algorithms, natural language processing, and automated scoring engines, among other new technologies, AI can personalize learning for each student from elementary to graduate school. 

And it's' not just students who are benefiting. Teachers who adopt AI tools are finally free from the bulk of their repetitive grading work. With AI handling those chores, educators have more time to focus on what they do best: guiding students! 

So yes, artificial intelligence tools really do give teachers superpowers. Now, students can get exactly what they need to learn and grow, whether in the classroom or at home.  

Sal Khan, founder and CEO of Khan Academy, has some more powerful thoughts about how AI could save the future of education, not destroy it.

How will AI impact the education industry?

The impact of AI in education is massive. AI-powered tools can automate admin tasks, reduce overheads, and lower education costs. AI makes it possible to have a classroom where lessons adjust to each student's strengths and weaknesses. A classroom where teachers get real-time feedback on how their students learn.

AI is set to revolutionize school methods, from curriculum development to student assessment. It will facilitate scalable, personalized, adaptable learning experiences, helping education to break away from the one-size-fits-all model.

To accommodate the transformation, institutions are predicted to have to invest in technology infrastructure and tackle the risk of widening the digital divide. 

How efficiently we integrate artificial intelligence into educational systems will depend on balancing technological advancements with human values and social equity. Ultimately, the goal is to use AI to shape future generations and innovate for the common good.

The ethical implications of AI in education

The biggest ethical issues of AI in teaching center around privacy, equity, and autonomy. While collecting and analyzing student data benefits personalized learning, there are some privacy concerns.

While these concerns aren't actual disadvantages of artificial intelligence in education, we must trade them carefully.

The education industry has a moral obligation to ensure that less affluent communities can afford AI technology costs and to avoid educational inequalities as we rely on it. 

Equally important, because AI algorithms potentially influence academic paths and life opportunities, reliance on AI for educational decisions should not undermine human autonomy, nor should it be a replacement for human intelligence. 

Ensuring AI systems are transparent, equitable, and complement human judgment is crucial. Addressing these ethical challenges will require the following:

• Continuous dialogue among teachers, technologists, and policymakers
• Developing and implementing robust regulatory frameworks
• Designing AI for education with ethical AI principles

The bottom line is privacy and security laws or guidelines should always incentivize tools to enhance, not undermine, educational fairness and human dignity.

Use 1: Create personalized video learning experiences

School can be tough! Personalized learning makes it more fun because you learn the way you like. And videos can help explain stuff better, just like pictures in a book! That's' why we remember 95% of a video's message compared to only 10% of text reading. And when we combine custom learning with videos, the results exceed expectations.

AI adaptive learning platforms like Smart Sparrow or Docebo create personalized educational journeys. They analyze data and create unique learning plans for different user profiles. By making learning more adaptable and interactive, they make it stick.

Synthesia and other text-to-video AI tools are extremely helpful in education. In minutes, they can turn any writing into a video lesson. The lesson is presented by an AI avatar (a digital double of a real actor) and can be in almost any language. And the best part? Editing them to adjust the information takes very little time. Check out this AI video where Professor Brink teaches Newton's' third law: 

If you upload an AI video to simple course creators like Easygenerator or Articulate 360, you can add interactive elements. The result is a super-engaging course that students can easily learn from. Here's' one presented by an AI avatar. It teaches how to use the AI video maker Synthesia together with Easygenerator:

Then, there are complex platforms with computational intelligence, like Wolfram Alpha. They cover a ton of learning topics and students can get AI study assistance while using them.

Use 2: Provide AI tutors and learning assistants

AI in education isn't about replacing teachers. In fact, AI tutors and chatbots can assist teachers and provide one-on-one support for student learning. These virtual assistants make the learning experience more efficient and focused and the school more fun. 

A tutor will give step-by-step problem-solving assistance. Schools can deploy one for subjects where students commonly struggle. Alternatively, AI chatbots answer key questions around the clock, reducing response time.

For example, Tutor.ai or Syntea are platforms for personalized tutoring. But students can get answers even from an internet browser by typing in questions for a bot like ChatGPT. Here's what ChatGPT would tell you when asked what kind of questions students can ask it:

Use 3: Fast-track science, programming, and language learning

Some artificial intelligence solutions on the market are excellent for explaining complex concepts. Science, programming, and language learning particularly benefit from using AI. That's' because these topics are more intimidating and complex. Breaking them into manageable lessons makes the study more approachable and enjoyable.

Labster, for instance, creates virtual science labs. It helps spark curiosity and make learning hands-on and effective, with students conducting experiments and simulations.

Similarly, Codecademy is packed with step-by-step programming lessons. And the Khan Academy includes practice exercises and instructional videos for all levels.

AI-driven language learning apps like Duolingo or Rosetta Stone are super popular, too, for improving communication and writing skills. They ask questions to assess the learner's level and build personalized plans. Fun quizzes and audio spoken clearly by natives make studying a breeze.

Use 4: Teach through educational games and simulations

Educational games and simulations teach the hard stuff in a way that doesn't feel like learning. This particular application of AI means learning can truly become an enjoyable experience. 

Sophisticated AI systems create adaptive learning environments. In other words, they tailor the study content to each student's learning pace and style. And AI analytics show educators how students perform and their learning patterns.

All it takes is for the AI games and simulations to align with the curriculum. They'll' improve student motivation and knowledge. In fact, 88% of teachers who use digital games in the classroom say children respond very well.

Kahoot!, Minecraft: Education Edition, or SimCityEDU are some of the cool game learning platforms. Using AI, they offer interactive storytelling and role-playing games. They pull children into real-world scenarios and wrap study materials into stories. 

Use 5: Promote universal access to education for disabled students

Nearly 240 million children worldwide have some disability. But AI can give these children universal access to education. Customized learning instruments that help with specific needs have the power to change lives. 

Teachers can use artificial intelligence assistive tools to:

• Help disabled learners navigate and interact with educational resources.
• Customize learning interfaces and content for various learning disabilities.
• Implement AI text-to-speech and speech-to-text emerging technologies for students with visual or hearing impairments.

For example, Microsoft Learning Tools makes texts more accessible with the Immersive Reader function. JAWS can read the screen for users with vision loss. And those with hearing difficulties can use Otter.ai for real-time transcriptions.

Use 6: Automate grading and provide instant feedback

Student success depends on continuous feedback, and rapid grading eases any assessment. Both are possible with AI, letting educators focus more on sharing knowledge and less on paperwork. It's a win-win: young learners get help to learn faster, and teachers get to... teach and actively improve children's skills.

Platforms like Quizlet teach with flashcards, games, and quizzes that give instant feedback. Turnitin Feedback Studio has multiple feedback tools. Gradescop was made so instructors could grade on-paper assessments more easily. Check them out, but don't stop at these!

Artificial intelligence systems are the sidekicks that catch students' mistakes. But instead of shouting them out, they whisper tips to improve. They can tell each student how to improve in a personalized, effective way. 

This specific use of AI in education isn't just about reducing the teacher's workload. This technology is also helping children learn faster, feel more confident, and reach their goals.

Use 7: Analyze student performance for early intervention

Early intervention can change a student's learning trajectory big time. AI can look at performance data and analyze various metrics. It will quickly spot at-risk children and tell which ones need extra support. At the same time, AI has some more potential benefits, as it can:

• Provide insights to customize intervention strategies.
• Forecast potential academic challenges and enable proactive support.

BrightBytes is an example of a data analytics platform for education. Renaissance Star 360 also provides assessments and analytics for early intervention.

Use 8: Automate administrative tasks

Teachers can have a magic helper robot. Not an actual robot but a tool or platform that handles all the boring paperwork and school chores. 

This automation means educators get back the time and mental energy to be with their students and teach. And the schools get smarter by having all learning materials organized.

Google for Education has an entire suite of instruments to automate classroom management and communication. And SchoolMint automates enrollment, school choice, and other administrative processes. 

Such AI-driven technology helps teachers regain control of their time and manage their classes better.

Create your first AI educational video

Research shows that students who use video learning perform better in assessments, and 93% of higher-ed institutions already use video-based learning.

No matter where you are in the educational sector, videos enhanced by AI technology are great for teaching and learning. They have the power to make your students pay attention. Why not make your own videos when you can do it using just some text and an internet browser?

Use this free AI video generator to create your first AI video in just a few minutes.