FROM the dawn of technology, humans have been relentlessly striving to use it in all areas of life. Technology has been a key driver of change in numerous industries. Technology has revolutionized every aspect of our lives, influencing how we work, live, and interact. This holds for the education system as well. Technology has improved classrooms to some degree, but there’s still much room for technological transformation. The education system currently follows a one-size-fits-all model, even though students have varying abilities.
Numerous barriers hinder the transformation of the education sector. Financial constraints, teacher availability, and capacity issues are all factors to consider. Another major limitation in delivering high-quality lectures is the student-to-teacher ratio. The developed world faces this dilemma less often than developing countries. AI’s integration into education can be crucial in addressing these challenges. Teaching is a demanding job. To deliver key concepts effectively, dedication is crucial. Teaching entails lesson planning, giving lectures, assigning tasks, evaluating progress, and providing focused support to students to achieve optimal results.
Performing these time-consuming and energy-draining tasks takes up much of teachers’ time. By incorporating artificial intelligence, we can automate many tasks, boosting classroom productivity and effectiveness. Artificial intelligence can help teachers tailor study plans to meet the unique needs of each student. Every student in the classroom has unique strengths and weaknesses. Manually planning teacher schedules is incredibly difficult, but AI can make it possible for teachers to create plans that meet the needs of every student. Artificial intelligence can improve classroom learning by transforming historical figures into realistic characters. Robots with personalities like Albert Einstein and Newton, powered by artificial intelligence, could be used in labs and classrooms to interact with students and increase their engagement.
Artificial intelligence can also monitor student focus and engagement during classes, which is crucial for ensuring education quality. AI robots excel at this by detecting pupil dilation and eyelid drooping to assess attention levels. This will aid in developing techniques suitable for teaching geometry to a fast learner, even if these techniques may not work for other students. AI can also create math problems tailored to student interests. By using cricket as a context, math can be taught more effectively to students who love the sport.
AI can create basketball-themed homework for students who love the sport, helping them learn in a fun and engaging way. This method guarantees students will fully understand the subjects because learning based on their interests is the best way to learn. Online classrooms can also benefit from the power of artificial intelligence to improve learning. The combination of virtual teachers and students in online classrooms amplifies the potential for student learning.
Furthermore, artificial intelligence can assist teachers with tasks like assignment creation, lesson planning, and finding solutions to student learning difficulties. By incorporating AI into schools, we arrive at the idea of “AI-infused schools,” where AI systems can collaborate with human teachers to enhance educational achievements. The possibility that AI might compromise human creativity and critical thinking is a source of worry. Human teachers must remain involved for artificial intelligence to be successfully incorporated.
Students will always have the benefit of human mentors and teachers. The role of human teachers in promoting critical thinking among students is indispensable. Developing empathy for others and teamwork as a goal-achieving mechanism requires the guidance of a human teacher. Despite AI integration, human teachers will remain essential for addressing student challenges. If a student is confused, a human teacher will help them understand. When a student has a complaint, a human teacher will deal with it right away. When a student is feeling frustrated, a human teacher will offer comfort and address the reason behind their frustration. As a result, human participation is essential for any education system to function properly.
Designing an AI system to meet student demands requires the active participation of human teachers who are mindful of social, religious, and cultural contexts. These factors need to be prioritized because ignoring religious and cultural norms hinders any successful innovation. By incorporating artificial intelligence, we can boost educational productivity, while mitigating risks by keeping human teachers as the primary element in the AI system. The initial expense of integrating AI into education is significant, but the benefits of reduced costs and expanded access to learning for all outweigh the investment. This system aims to level the playing field for students, empowering them to thrive and compete effectively in the job market.
This will lighten the load for teachers, improve their productivity, and promote their well-being. We must embrace Artificial Intelligence as a driving force in our education system. With the world advancing quickly, artificial intelligence will revolutionize education, with leading nations using this technology to produce students with enhanced comprehension of their fields. Compared to the rest of the world, Pakistan’s education system falls short in productivity, efficiency, and innovative practices. Artificial intelligence integration hinges on first addressing the challenges posed by society, economics, and politics. While the need for a revolutionary change in our education system is evident, it’s a dilemma that policymakers largely fail to address. This will only exacerbate problems and lead to a broken education system. The time is ripe to revolutionize our education system by incorporating key technological innovations, with AI at the helm. Education’s future worldwide is undeniably going to be transformed by artificial intelligence.
—The writer is an educationist and a Commoner from 44th Common, based in Sargodha.
(waqarhassancsp@gmail.com)
