“The future of education is here! AI and machine learning are set to revolutionize the way we learn, with personalized instruction and formative assessment providing a tailored educational experience. But what does this mean for the future of education, and are there potential drawbacks? Read on to find out more.”
ChatGPT – Democratizing the Knowledge of the World
AI is here to stay. ChatGPT just launched a few days ago (OpenAI’s newest GPT 3.5 model – chat.openai.com). It is an AI that can be communicated with like the old “chat bots” of yesteryear, has perfect memory, and can do everything from creative to strategic copywriting, programming, prompt writing for image generators, and more. Every passing day people are finding novel tasks that ChatGPT can seemingly handle with ease.
It truly seems like the original dream of the Internet, democratizing the knowledge of the world, has finally arrived. But what does this new technology represent for students and teachers alike?
The Third Wave of Educational Paradigms
This revolution – The integration of AI (Artifical Intelligence) and ML (Machine Learning) into the education sector – we will now call the “Third Wave” of educational paradigms, because it represents such an incredibly significant shift in the way education is going to be delivered and experienced.
…the “Third Wave” of educational paradigms, because it represents such an incredibly significant shift in the way education is going to be delivered and experienced.
The first wave of educational paradigms, which began in the 19th century, was characterized by the introduction of mass education and the development of standardized curricula.
The second wave, which began in the mid-20th century, saw the rise of constructivist and learner-centered approaches to education, as well as the integration of technology into the classroom.
The third wave of educational paradigms, which is currently underway, is being driven by the growing recognition of the potential benefits of using AI and ML in education. This shift is characterized by the use of AI and ML algorithms to:
- personalize learning
- improve student engagement and achievement
- reduce the workload of teachers.
The third wave of educational paradigms is also marked by a focus on data-driven decision making, the use of AI-powered tutoring and language learning systems, and the development of independent learning and critical thinking skills. These developments are leading to a transformation of the education sector, and are helping to pave the way for a more personalized, engaging, and effective learning experience for students.
The integration of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) into the education sector is leading to the emergence of the third wave of educational paradigms. This shift is driven by the growing recognition of the potential benefits of using AI and ML in education, including the ability to personalize learning, improve student engagement and achievement, and reduce the workload of teachers.
The Benefits of AI and ML in Education
- Personalized learning
- Improved student engagement and achievement
- Reduced workload for teachers
- Enhanced learning outcomes
- Improved quality and timeliness of feedback
- Grading and feedback support
- AI-powered tutoring and language learning
One of the key ways in which AI and ML are being used in education is through the development of personalized learning platforms. These platforms use AI and ML algorithms to analyze data on student performance, learning preferences, and interests, and use this information to create personalized learning experiences for each student. By providing tailored content and feedback, personalized learning platforms can help to improve student engagement and motivation, as well as enhance their learning outcomes.
Another key application of AI and ML in education is in the area of formative assessment. Formative assessment refers to the use of regular feedback and assessment to track student progress and guide instruction. AI and ML algorithms can be used to automatically analyze data on student performance and provide real-time feedback to teachers and students. This can help to reduce the workload of teachers, as well as improve the quality and timeliness of feedback, leading to better student outcomes.
The educational revolution that truly immediate real-time feedback will bring would merit its own article, but it also is going to facilitate and improve the work of all teachers as well.
In addition to personalized learning and formative assessment, AI and ML are also being used in education to support a range of other applications, including grading, tutoring, and language learning.
For example, AI algorithms can be used to grade essays and other written assignments, providing students with rapid feedback on their work. AI-powered tutoring systems can provide personalized support to students, helping them to learn at their own pace and providing them with instant feedback on their progress. And AI-powered language learning platforms can provide personalized content and feedback to help students improve their language skills.
Potential Negatives of AI in Education
The integration of AI into the education sector has the potential to bring numerous benefits, including personalized learning, improved student engagement and achievement, and reduced workload for teachers. However, there are also potential negatives associated with the use of AI in education, particularly in the context of the release of ChatGPT, a powerful language model that has the ability to generate human-like responses to prompts.
- No More Homework, Take-Home Exams, and Essays
- Over-Reliance on AI in Developing Students – Cognitive Effects?
- Bias and Discrimination
- Increasing the Digital Divide
- Fake News and Misinformation
No More Homework, Take-Home Exams, and Essays
Gone are the days of homework, take-home exams, and essays. Let that sink in for a bit. If you don’t believe me, consider:
Me: Write me an analysis of all the events that shaped the world in 2020
ChatGPT: In 2020, the world was shaped by a number of significant events, including the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the United States presidential election, and widespread protests against police brutality and racial injustice.
The COVID-19 pandemic, which began in 2019, continued to spread throughout the world in 2020, leading to widespread lockdowns, economic disruption, and loss of life. The pandemic highlighted systemic inequalities and the need for global cooperation in addressing global health challenges.
The United States presidential election in November 2020 was marked by heated debates and political divisions, with incumbent President Donald Trump facing off against Democratic nominee Joe Biden. The election was ultimately won by Biden, who became the 46th President of the United States.
Throughout the year, protests against police brutality and racial injustice erupted in the United States and around the world, sparked by the killing of George Floyd, a Black man, by a white police officer in Minneapolis in May. The protests led to a renewed focus on issues of racism and discrimination, and spurred calls for systemic change.
Other notable events of 2020 included the launch of the first manned space mission by SpaceX, the passing of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, and the United Kingdom’s withdrawal from the European Union. Overall, 2020 was a tumultuous year marked by global challenges and significant social and political change.
All of that is completely original and took mere seconds to produce. And if I don’t like it, to get another version all I have to do is press a button.
While adversarial AIs will likely be designed in the future, to try and check if a submitted text was AI-produced or not, it is always going to be a much simpler problem to produce something completely new than to be able to “check” it. Unfortunately, that means it will be next to impossible to ensure that any text written at all can’t be verified as being from that student.
Gone are the days of homework, take-home exams, and essays.
Over-Reliance on AI in Developing Students – Cognitive Effects?
Another negative of AI in education is the risk of students becoming overly reliant on AI-powered tools and systems. As AI algorithms become more advanced, there is a risk that students may come to rely on these systems for everything from grading and feedback to tutoring and learning support. This could lead to a decrease in critical thinking and problem-solving skills, as students may become less inclined to engage in independent learning and more reliant on the guidance of AI systems.
Bias and Discrimination
Another potential negative of AI in education is the potential for bias and discrimination. AI algorithms are only as good as the data they are trained on, and if the training data contains biases or discriminatory practices, these can be reinforced and amplified by the AI system. This could lead to unequal and unfair treatment of students, particularly those from marginalized communities.
Increasing the Digital Divide
Not to mention that this could only serve to worsen the digital divide as students with more resources could potentially afford more access to AI services and potentially in the future to better and better AI models themselves.
Fake News and Misinformation
Finally, the release of ChatGPT and other powerful language models has raised concerns about the potential for AI to be used for malicious purposes, such as generating fake news or spreading misinformation. In the context of education, this could have serious implications, as students may be exposed to false or misleading information through AI-powered tools and systems.
This New Challenge Creates Opportunity
Students will have to put themselves in the driver’s seat of their own education. Teachers will need to convert themselves into being more in the role of a guide.
In conclusion, the integration of AI and ML into the education sector is a significant shift in the way education is delivered and experienced. So much so, that it ushers in the third, and quite possibly biggest, revolution that education has ever taken part of.
While there are plenty of potential negative drawbacks to using AI in education, this new challenge creates opportunity.
Its about time that things got shaken up a bit! In order to move forward, we are going to have to completely upend our way of thinking about education, both in others and with ourselves.
Students will have to put themselves in the driver’s seat of their own education. Teachers will need to convert themselves into being more in the role of a guide. All of the steps that the American Colombian Academy and its ACA Explorers have taken to ensure we are continuing on the i+1 Path to Become Our Best Selves has forced us to make these kinds of adjustments already, but we still have a long way to go. Everything the world over is about to change.
Are you ready for the Third Wave?
