How can key benefits of Artificial Intelligence like personalisation and better administrative efficiencies ensure better student results?
Georgia State University has set up an AI-enhanced advising system that uses predictive analytics to identify students who may be at risk of dropping out and to provide early support. This system gives personalised guidance to each student by monitoring over 800 risk factors. This proactive approach has significantly reduced dropout rates and increased graduation rates, especially for first-generation and low-income students.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is revolutionising various sectors, including higher education. Universities and colleges are increasingly adopting AI to enhance learning experiences, streamline administrative tasks, and offer innovative student support.
The integration of artificial intelligence (AI) in higher education has gained a lot of attention recently and has the potential to change how students learn, how teachers teach, and how institutions operate. AI can benefit students with key facets, including personalised learning, improved administrative efficiency, and better student outcomes.
Deakin University in Australia has introduced “Genie,” an AI-powered digital assistant, to improve the learning experiences of its students. Genie provides personalised study advice, helps students choose their courses, and answers their questions. This virtual assistant is available 24/7, which has led to increased student satisfaction and engagement.
Table of Contents
- What is AI and why is it important?
- Benefits of AI in higher education
- The future of AI in higher education
- AI’s impact on higher education
- A balanced approach
What is AI and why is it important?
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is the creation of computer systems that can do tasks usually needing human intelligence. These tasks include solving problems, making decisions, understanding language, and recognising patterns. The quick growth of AI technology is changing many fields, including higher education, by offering new solutions to old problems.
In higher education, AI is not just a tool for automating tasks; it is a way to improve teaching and learning experiences. By analysing large amounts of data and adapting to different learning styles, AI can personalise education, making it more accessible and effective for a variety of students. As the digital world continues to grow, it is becoming more important for educational institutions to understand and use AI in their systems if they want to stay competitive and relevant.
Benefits of AI in higher education: The future of learning
The significance of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in higher education comes from the many benefits and improvements this technology offers to the learning environment. Here are some important reasons why AI is vital in higher education:
- Personalised learning experiences
One of the most significant benefits of AI in higher education is its ability to offer personalised learning experiences. Through data analysis, AI can track a student’s progress, identify their strengths and weaknesses, and provide customised learning paths. This tailored approach ensures that students receive support where they need it most, fostering a more inclusive and efficient learning environment.
- Enhanced administrative efficiency
AI technologies can streamline administrative tasks such as enrolment, grading, and scheduling. This allows faculty and administrative staff to focus more on academic and student support activities. AI-driven chatbots can handle routine queries, and admissions processes, and even provide 24/7 support, significantly reducing the workload on administrative staff.
- Improved student engagement and retention
AI-powered tools like virtual tutors and interactive platforms can make learning more engaging. These tools can adapt to the pace and style of individual learners, ensuring that students are more involved in their education. Additionally, predictive analytics can identify at-risk students and provide timely interventions, improving retention rates and overall student success.
- Advanced research capabilities
AI’s data processing capabilities are revolutionising research in higher education. From analysing complex datasets to simulating experiments, AI can significantly reduce the time required for research. Moreover, AI-driven tools can assist in literature reviews and data interpretation, allowing researchers to focus on innovative aspects of their work.
- Accessibility and inclusivity
AI can make education more accessible to students with disabilities. For example, speech recognition software can transcribe lectures for hearing-impaired students, and AI-driven text-to-speech tools can assist visually impaired students. Moreover, language translation tools can help non-native speakers understand course material more effectively.
The future of AI in higher education
AI has the potential to significantly reshape higher education. We can anticipate more interactive and immersive learning environments and broader educational access as technology advances. However, institutions must navigate these changes ethically, ensuring fair AI use while addressing potential challenges.
Personalised learning experiences
One of the best uses of AI in higher education is creating personalised learning experiences. By using AI algorithms and machine learning, schools can make adaptive learning platforms that fit each student’s individual needs, learning styles, and pace. These platforms can look at student performance data to find areas where they need help, suggest customised learning materials, and give real-time feedback. This approach can lead to better learning results and more student success.
Intelligent tutoring systems
AI tutoring systems have the potential to change how students get academic help. Using natural language processing (NLP) and machine learning, these systems can understand and respond to students’ questions, offering tailored guidance and feedback. As these systems continue to develop, they could become powerful tools that support traditional classroom teaching and meet the various learning needs of students.
Enhanced student engagement
AI chatbots and virtual assistants are becoming more common in higher education to boost student engagement and provide support. These AI tools can help students with tasks like course selection, enrolment, and finding learning materials, while also offering personalised academic and career advice. By improving communication and providing immediate help, AI tools can greatly enhance the overall student experience.
Efficient administration and resource management
AI can also help make administrative processes in higher education more efficient. From automating repetitive tasks like admissions and scheduling to improving how resources are used, AI can increase operational efficiency, cut costs, and allow institutions to focus on their main goals – teaching and research.
Data-driven decision making
Higher education institutions collect a lot of data, from student performance to research results. AI analytics tools can help schools understand this data, providing useful insights that guide decision-making and planning. By using AI-driven analytics, institutions can spot trends, predict future outcomes, and make informed decisions that improve their overall performance.
AI in education: A balanced approach
AI is rapidly transforming higher education, offering tools to enhance personalised learning and administrative efficiency. While AI improves student learning and eases teachers’ workloads, maintaining a balance between technology and human interaction is crucial. Institutions should strategically integrate AI, enhancing education while addressing ethical concerns and preserving essential human elements in teaching.
Focusing on human-centred learning
AI should help improve, not replace, human interactions in learning. Teachers should use AI tools to make their teaching better, giving more personalised support and feedback to students. The main focus of education should always be on the needs and well-being of the students.
Tackling ethical and privacy issues
Schools need to set clear rules about data privacy and the ethical use of AI. Students should know how their data is used and have the choice to opt out of data collection if they want. Additionally, there should be efforts to make sure AI systems do not have biases that could harm student results.
Making AI resources available to everyone
To avoid a digital divide, schools must ensure all students have equal access to AI learning tools and resources. This may involve improving digital infrastructure and providing training and support to both students and teachers to help them use these technologies effectively.
Building an AI-ready culture
Creating a culture that is ready for AI within schools means training teachers and students to understand and use AI technologies effectively. Workshops, seminars, and professional development programmes can help teachers integrate AI into their lessons. Likewise, students should be encouraged to learn about AI, giving them the skills they need to succeed in a world driven by AI.
Promoting collaboration across disciplines
The use of AI in higher education isn’t just for science and technology fields. Working together across different subjects can lead to new and creative ways to use AI in areas like the arts, humanities, and social sciences. Schools should support projects that bring together various perspectives and expertise, promoting a broader approach to using AI in education.
Peyman Khosravani is a global blockchain and digital transformation expert with a passion for marketing, futuristic ideas, analytics insights, startup businesses, and effective communications. He has extensive experience in blockchain and DeFi projects and is committed to using technology to bring justice and fairness to society and promote freedom. Peyman has worked with international organizations to improve digital transformation strategies and data-gathering strategies that help identify customer touchpoints and sources of data that tell the story of what is happening. With his expertise in blockchain, digital transformation, marketing, analytics insights, startup businesses, and effective communications, Peyman is dedicated to helping businesses succeed in the digital age. He believes that technology can be used as a tool for positive change in the world.
