Have you been caught up in the buzz of AI models in education such as ChatGPT?
Beyond the scenes at Eduten, we’ve curiously embraced the potential of AI to add value to some of our marketing and communications. And we’re pleased to say, ChatGPT, for example, is a game changer. We’ve successfully leveraged it to leave us more time for planning, ideating, and meeting in person.
But how about adding more AI-driven aspects to the Eduten platform?
We’re excited about the possibilities of deeper AI use but we’re also treading carefully. We take our responsibility as a leading educational tool seriously and test any new additions thoroughly before launching
Recently, a fragment of the AI discussion caught our attention. There are suggestions that AI models could provide individualized and personalized tutoring for students and that teachers might become a ‘thing of the past’.
The Eduten team sees significant challenges in achieving this at this point and here’s why…
Eduten is Already at the Cutting Edge of AI
Before we launch into why we think AI being a ‘personalized teacher’ is problematic, we need to rewind… Did you know that Eduten began harnessing the power of AI some 15 years ago?
Before AI was trendy, we were already using it! We saw the value of AI and still use it to support teachers with their planning, marking, and grading of work.
In other words, taking care of the tedious tasks that take teachers away from kids, such as marking, grading, and differentiation. That way, the teacher has more time to give students individual attention.
We’ve always been steadfast in our position that no matter what AI tools are being utilized in teaching and learning, teachers are the glue that holds everything together.
And here’s the twist- rather than AI replacing humans, you could say that we view AI as a way to actually promote human interaction.
AI Models: Good Servants, Bad Masters
Currently, AI tools are only as good as the questions asked of them. Asking the right questions is not easy, and it requires a deep understanding of the material and the needs of students.
At Eduten, we’ve always acknowledged the necessity of good teachers with sound pedagogical knowledge to ask these questions.
Is Personalized Learning Synonymous With AI?
Personalized learning and AI can overlap but are not synonymous.
Creating personalized learning solely using AI models can be problematic because a teacher’s role goes beyond merely providing information. Teachers provide guidance, support, and mentorship to their students.
Therefore, while AI can be a helpful tool to support personalized learning, it cannot replace human educators and mentors.
While ChatGPT, for example, is a valuable tool for personalized learning, it still has a long way to go before it will replace teachers in education. The most effective kind of learning happens in a social context. AI models still lack this critical aspect.
Education is not only about academic skills and higher-order thinking but also about building relationships and developing social skills. This includes:
- Working in groups
- Sharing ideas
- Arguing or defending one’s position
- Solving conflicts
What Does the Future Hold for AI and Personalized Learning?
The most effective personalized learning solutions are likely to involve a combination of technology and human guidance, with a focus on understanding and addressing each student’s unique needs and learning styles.
At the moment, AI still lacks the level of confidence needed to provide definitive answers in certain situations. AI can make mistakes (AKA hallucinations in AI circles), and it can also be biased. It’s essential to recognize AI’s limitations and use it alongside other teaching methods.
Presently, AI’s strength as we see it is in the realm of insightful feedback and tips and trying to guide the student forward, but the current models lack the empathic understanding required to fuel deep learning.
Therefore, just as we’re using AI on our marketing team to free up more time for human interactions, that’s how we see AI in the teaching and learning process — an excellent, supportive tool to serve teachers and students — but not a replacement.
