5 Ways AI Will Transform Education in the Coming Years

Preparing Families, Educators and Students for the AI-Driven Future of Learning

Most readers can relate to this post whether you work in education or not: You were a student once, and probably remember the emerging technology of your time.

It may have been that calculators, computers, the internet, social media, adaptive learning, or now Artificial Intelligence (AI) was new to you and your peers, and everyone (most notably the adults who have to use these in the classroom) has to adapt.

It’s incredible to see how powerful each of these prior technologies has been, and it’s almost assured that AI will have an equally profound impact on how educators do our work.

You may also be a parent or guardian now, navigating how different education looks versus when you were in a classroom, albeit with still so many of the same systems and structures in place.

Think of how the emerging technologies possible with AI will equip the newer generations to leverage them to make an impact on the world, and how we can help guide them in our various capacities to use them towards ethically good, powerful outcomes.

AI has already started transforming various sectors, and even at the time of this writing, education is no exception.

Rising AI Trends in Education

We are already seeing widespread use of AI to assist, supplement, or supplant student writing in most secondary and post-secondary schools, whereas educators are scrambling to adapt to this and incorporate it or outright resist it.

AI assisted tutoring is on the rise, as is the use of AI in adaptive learning programs in which what the software learns about a student it then uses to curate or guide that learner into future assistance. 

In the coming years, we can expect AI to play an increasingly significant role in educational settings.

This blog post explores five AI trends likely to emerge and become popular, reshaping how we use data in schools and emphasising the importance of understanding AI before it fully automates educational tasks. 

1. Personalised Learning

AI-powered personalised learning systems are poised to become mainstream.

These systems use algorithms to analyse students' learning styles, strengths, and weaknesses, creating tailored educational experiences.

Personalised learning can adapt to each student's pace, providing additional resources or challenges as needed.

This approach not only enhances student engagement but also improves learning outcomes by addressing individual needs more effectively.

Understanding how these systems work is crucial for educators and students alike.

Before AI completely takes over the task of customising learning experiences, it's essential to grasp the underlying principles.

This knowledge will help educators refine AI recommendations and ensure that the automated systems align with educational goals.

2. Predictive Analytics for Student Success

Predictive analytics is another AI application set to revolutionise education.

By analysing vast amounts of data, AI can predict student performance and identify those at risk of falling behind.

Early interventions based on these predictions can significantly improve student outcomes.

Schools will need to understand how predictive models work to make informed decisions about interventions.

Just as calculators changed the way we approach arithmetic, predictive analytics will change our approach to student support.

Educators must be able to interpret AI-generated insights to effectively address students' needs and ensure that the data-driven interventions are beneficial.

3. Automated Administrative Tasks

AI can automate various administrative tasks, freeing up educators to focus more on teaching and less on paperwork.

From scheduling and attendance tracking to grading and feedback, AI systems can handle these routine tasks efficiently and accurately.

However, it's essential for educators to understand the automation processes to ensure they are implemented correctly.

By learning how these systems work, educators can troubleshoot issues, customise features to better fit their needs, and maintain control over the educational environment.

Knowledge of AI operations will also help in monitoring and improving these systems over time.

4. Enhanced Data-Driven Decision Making

AI's ability to process and analyse large datasets can significantly enhance data-driven decision-making in schools.

From resource allocation to curriculum development, AI can provide insights that lead to more effective and efficient educational strategies.

Educators and administrators must develop a strong foundation in data literacy to maximise the benefits of AI in decision-making.

Understanding the data, the algorithms used to analyse it, and the context of the results will empower schools to make more informed decisions.

This foundational knowledge ensures that AI tools are used to their full potential while maintaining transparency and accountability.

5. AI-Powered Tutoring and Support

AI-powered tutoring systems offer students additional support outside the classroom.

These systems can provide explanations, answer questions, and offer practice problems, mimicking the support a human tutor would offer.

As these systems become more sophisticated, they will be able to offer increasingly personalised and effective support.

To fully utilise AI tutors, educators need to understand their capabilities and limitations.

Before AI tutors become a standard educational tool, it is vital to learn how they operate, how to integrate them into the existing curriculum, and how to interpret their outputs.

This understanding will help educators guide students in using AI tutors effectively and ensure these tools complement traditional teaching methods.

Evolving Alongside Emerging Technologies

As AI becomes more integrated into education, it is crucial for educators and students to understand how these systems work.

The examples above hopefully provide much thought for how we can think ahead and respond to the coming use case scenarios.

As these trends become more prevalent, understanding AI's workings will be crucial for educators and students.

By developing a strong foundation in AI and fundamental knowledge of data use, we can ensure that these technologies are used effectively to improve educational outcomes and maintain a human-centered approach to learning.

Regardless of your role in the infrastructure of education, being either educator, guardian of children, employers of future generations, or citizen of a community with schools who are grappling with these issues, our lives will be affected in ways that we are just beginning to understand regarding how AI will impact learning for the foreseeable future.

Let’s collectively lean in on what this means for our students, our workforce, and our society and give our voices and input to how these trends evolve.  

Whether you are a parent, guardian, mentor, teacher, or just informed citizen seeing these trends evolve, the more we communicate and collaborate about these topics, the more our youth will benefit from our collaborations.

I hope you engage in the discussion!

A few points to leave you with as you reflect on where educational AI is heading: 

• Understanding AI tools aids in effectively using and critically assessing their outputs. 

• Just as calculators necessitated knowledge of arithmetic, AI requires foundational knowledge in data analysis and AI operations. 

• AI has the potential to revolutionise education, offering new roles for educators and transforming support for student learning.