Using Artificial Intelligence Technologies in Schools and Universities: Opportunities and Challenges
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is creating a major buzz and transformation across various fields, most notably in education. Educational institutions in general, and schools and universities in particular, are striving to integrate and leverage AI to improve teaching methods and facilitate administrative and operational tasks.
Students are increasingly using AI to help them complete their assignments, generate ideas, and receive guidance.
It is expected that the use of AI in educational fields—especially in schools and universities—will significantly increase in the coming years, in both quantity and quality, compared to its current usage.
Here, we aim to shed light on the benefits and opportunities of using AI in education, particularly in schools and universities, as well as the challenges that currently exist and those that may arise in the future.
When AI first emerged and became freely accessible, it spread rapidly and was utilized by both teachers and students. It has been used to provide references, solve assignments, explain lessons, create and grade exams, and suggest various teaching strategies.
Education has now become closely linked to AI and its applications, which increases the potential opportunities available for enhancing education through this technology.
How Can AI Improve Education? (Opportunities)
- Providing personalized learning content tailored to each student, focusing on their strengths and weaknesses and helping them improve individually.
- Offering AI-powered tools that assist teachers in writing and grading exams, generating ideas, and implementing them effectively, thereby saving time and allowing for more creativity.
- Conducting scientific physics experiments through virtual reality in a 3D world, making experimentation more accessible and reducing the barriers to real-world implementation.
- Supporting research efforts, assisting in translation, and performing high-level statistical analysis of data and information.
- Aiding in making informed educational decisions.
- Developing teaching systems and providing customized curricula for each student.
- Analyzing student behaviors and offering scientifically sound strategies to improve both academic and behavioral outcomes.
- Completing routine administrative tasks efficiently with the help of AI.
What Are the Challenges Facing AI in Education? (Obstacles)
- Over-reliance on AI applications, which may limit individual thinking and the development of original ideas.
- The need for secure systems to protect sensitive student data, especially data used to analyze behavior and educational development.
- Reduced human interaction and communication among students.
- Limited access to AI tools and applications due to economic, psychological, or capability-related challenges, creating a gap between students who have access and those who do not.
Therefore, educational institutions must regulate the use of AI applications and tools in schools and universities to ensure that all students benefit equally from technological advancements and stay up to date.
This should be done in a way that ensures the best educational outcomes using AI and virtual reality, without compromising academic integrity, or the ability of students and teachers to think critically. The goal is to maintain the highest standards of academic honesty and critical thinking.