The Transformative Impact of AI in Higher Education

• Artificial Intelligence, Education
• Posted: 11 months ago

Artificial Intelligence (AI), with its ability to learn, reason, and self-correct, has made its way into all aspects of our lives. Every industry has something to gain from introducing this powerful tech, but the impact of AI in higher education is undeniable.

The use of AI in the higher education landscape promises to reshape teaching and learning experiences profoundly. As an AI company at the forefront of this tech, we’re here to unravel this relationship between AI and higher education. In this blog post, we’ll explore everything from the roles and real-world uses of AI in higher education, to challenges and future directions.

How to Use AI in Higher Education

Step into any modern classroom, and you’re likely to encounter AI. It has been instrumental in transforming the traditional educational models many of us are familiar with. AI is here to set new benchmarks for educational delivery and reception. Here are a few ways AI is being used in higher education:

AI as a Teaching Tool

AI-powered platforms are emerging as game-changers in education. They are like personal tutors, only better. AI teaching tools can provide interactive learning materials, assess your performance, and give feedback. Their capabilities are sure to transform the learning experience of students of today.

AI and Student Engagement:

AI isn’t just about serious stuff. It also knows how to keep things fun and engaging. In this way, they play a big role in enhancing student engagement. This is one area that often proves to be a big challenge for higher education institutions. Chatbots, for instance, are there to answer your queries anytime. These chatbots can answer student queries around the clock, ensuring that learning never needs to pause. This real-time interaction keeps the students engaged and makes them feel supported throughout their learning journey.

AI for Personalized Learning:

One size doesn’t fit all, and AI gets that. AI algorithms can analyse individual learning patterns, strengths, and areas students may need to improve. Educators can use these insights to personalize each student’s learning experience, ensuring no learner falls through the cracks or misses out on crucial knowledge.

Real-Life Use Cases of AI in Universities

The impact of AI on higher education isn’t just a theorized concept. It’s a reality. Many universities around the world have already adopted this technology with the hopes of improving student experiences:

1. Georgia State University: Chatbot to Reduce ‘Summer Melt’

Going to university for the first time is overwhelming, especially if you don’t have someone guiding you through the seemingly complex steps. This is the exact reason Georgia State University implemented its chatbot, Pounce.

Georgia State University (GSU) has been using a chatbot named Pounce, built by AdmitHub, to tackle the issue of ‘summer melt’. ‘Summer melt’ is a phenomenon where between 10 and 40 percent of enrolled freshmen don’t show up to campus in the fall. This is often due to confusion about financial deadlines and other requirements, especially among first-generation or low-income students.

Pounce was designed to reach out to students via text when they have not completed tasks by certain dates. The chatbot can answer students’ questions, and if a question is too complex, it can forward the question to a human counsellor at the university. This system has been successful in reducing summer melt by over 20%, with the greatest gains seen among low-income and first-generation students.

2. Stanford University – Stanford Vision Lab

The Stanford Vision and Learning Lab (SVL) is a research group that focuses on developing methods and mechanisms for generalizable robot perception and control. They work on challenging open problems at the intersection of computer vision, machine learning, and robotics.

The lab is involved in various projects, including the People, AI & Robots Group (PAIR), which focuses on developing algorithms and systems that unify reinforcement learning, control theoretic modelling, and 2D/3D visual scene understanding to teach robots to perceive and interact with the physical world.

Another project is the Partnership in AI-Assisted Care (PAC), an interdisciplinary collaboration between the School of Medicine and the Computer Science department. PAC focuses on using cutting-edge computer vision and machine learning technologies to solve some of healthcare’s most important problems.

At Stanford University’s ‘Stanford Vision Lab’, AI is not just a tool but a teacher. Students are getting hands-on experience with AI, an invaluable experience to equip them for a future rich with this tech.

The Future of AI in Higher Education

The future of AI in higher education is promising. There are several trends on the horizon set to change the industry. AI is here to offer personalized, immersive and adaptive learning experiences to each student. More than this, it will also make the lives of university staff easier, by automating administrative tasks. AI will do the grunt work so that educators can focus less on paper-pushing and more on teaching.

Challenges and Limitations of AI in Higher Education

Like everything else, AI has its challenges.

Ethical Concerns

When it comes to AI, ethical concerns come with the territory. Algorithmic bias is a big concern. One of the most important aspects of addressing this is making sure our AI systems are fair and transparent, unbiased, and fair in their operations.

Data Privacy:

AI systems feast on vast amounts of data. However, since they are working so closely with our personal data, we need to bring data privacy and security to the forefront. Safeguarding student information while taking advantage of the benefits of AI is a delicate balance that institutions must maintain.

AI Dependency:

Lastly, we need to avoid becoming too dependent on AI. While AI is a powerful tool that is here to make our lives easier, becoming overly dependant on it could potentially decrease human interaction. This is a big part of the university experience and is crucial for the development of the holistic development of students.

Wrapping Up

The impact of AI on higher education is massive. It’s creating a learning experience that’s engaging, effective, and tailored for each student. But like any other tool, it’s about how we use it. Let’s embrace its potential, address its challenges, and work towards an AI-enabled future that makes education an exciting journey.

Are you ready to transform your higher education institution with AI? Get in touch with Verge AI today and discover how their custom AI chatbot, designed specifically for the higher education industry, can revolutionize your learning experience. Let’s gear up and step into an AI-driven future, where education isn’t just a process; it’s an experience.