It’s a classic human v. machine scenario: as AI gets better at teaching and providing educational assistance, the question inevitably turns to whether and when human teachers will be replaced by
computers.
Students across the U.S. are currently enrolled in online schools that provide the benefits of a teacher and curriculum with the comfort and convenience of homeschooling, and although these schools still have human teachers ready to answer questions from students, much of the teaching is done by computer program.
This symbiotic relationship between human teacher and computer seems to be the next frontier for education.
No, cyborgs are not going to take over our classrooms. But in the very near future, teachers and AI computers may team up to provide stronger, better educational experiences for students at every level from primary school up to university.
The argument is not that computers and AI should replace human teachers but that they can be used to augment the capabilities of human teachers in beneficial ways:
- AI can automate basic, repetitive activities like grading. Today essay grading software is not up to par with human teachers, but computer programs can accurately grade all kinds of multiple choice and fill in the blank style homework. Freeing teachers from grading would give them more time to prepare and interact in class.
- Educational software can adjust to meet each student exactly where he or she is. One problem often seen in classrooms is that teachers tend to teach to the middle, and students who are advanced or falling behind get left out. Educational programs can adjust the speed at which individual students go through coursework, provide additional help when a student struggles, or provide additional enrichment when a student is working ahead of the rest of the class. A human teacher would struggle to keep up with providing a unique lesson plan for every student.
- AI can go beyond the classroom and support students at home. As any parent knows, it can be a huge challenge when a child struggles with homework. Educational programs that can be accessed from home can provide support at any time of day or night, and can even provide additional tutoring to students who need it.
- AI can help the teacher provide better learning experiences. If educational software notes that a large percentage of students are missing a particular question, it can flag the question, which can provide important feedback to the human teacher that his or her lesson may need additional details or clarity.
- Computer systems can provide valuable feedback to parents, educators, and administrators. Because so much data can be recorded in a computer environment, it’s an excellent way for everyone involved in the process to receive feedback and understand both where they excel and where they could improve. It could reduce the need for separate standardized testing and provide a level playing field for helping to assess teacher and school performance.
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Imagine a world in which students can learn from anywhere in the world, where your teenager can sleep in until 10 and still participate in his maths class, and where a child can access specific courses, information, and materials from teachers all across the globe.
With the right balance of human and machine interaction, it could be a net positive for education around the world.
Bernard Marr is a best-selling author & keynote speaker. His new book: 'Big Data in Practice: How 45 Successful Companies Used Big Data Analytics to Deliver Extraordinary Results'
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