With advancing emerging technology and a wealth of global information at one’s fingertips, education is no longer limited to acquiring academic knowledge but upskilling oneself to navigate the ways of the ever-evolving world. Edtech startups like BYJU’S, Udemy, Unacademy, and many more have revolutionised the educational paradigm, shifting classroom learning to a more fun-filled and experiential virtual setting, based on the learner’s interest and style.
As terms like individualised learning, hyper-personalisation, smart content are surfacing and gaining popularity, the role of artificial intelligence (AI) in learning is becoming more important than ever before. Data science and Machine Learning (ML) are also being increasingly blended with traditional pedagogical structures to build tailored content based on individual student experiences, interests, learning abilities, and pace. AI-powered voice assistants, digitised textbooks guides, personalised bite-sized video content and learning material, interactive live sessions, smart notes, personalised worksheets, digital flashcards are some of the interesting ways of quick learning for both kids and adults.
How AI is transforming education
In India, Mindspark‘s AI-based adaptive-learning programme, for instance, offers personalised tutoring based on learners’ strengths and weaknesses. LeverageEdu’s digital marketplace uses AI to match a student’s profile with relevant schools and colleges. An AI-built proctoring solution by TCS can monitor thousands of examination venues simultaneously.
While the privately-run education businesses are scurrying to lead the sprint, tech intervention in the public education sector in India is gradually picking up pace. It has already made headway with the launch of the Ministry of Education’s first e-learning platform SWAYAM in 2017.
NITI Ayog, in their National Strategy for Artificial Intelligence report, stated the ‘low-retention rates’ with one-third dropouts before eighth grade, poor learning outcomes, low interactive learning, and lack of need-based professional teacher training courses as some of the persisting problems of the public education sector, especially in remote rural areas. In addition, the lack of required infrastructure and ICT training for teachers has made tech penetration a far cry.
However, the larger the concern, the greater the scope of AI integration for seamless resolution of these long-standing issues. Some state governments have been forerunners in implementing AI solutions in education. The Andhra Pradesh government deployed Microsoft’s Azure ML solution that finds predictive patterns using ML and analytics to identify and help prevent dropout cases. The Haryana Department of School Education used AI-enabled adaptive learning tools to offer need-based tutoring and feedback to learners. It also integrated an automated system to grade essays.
Source: yourstory.com
