ChatGPT’s entrance into the market in Fall 2022 brought a new wave of technological possibilities. The tech industry learned quickly that the chatbot can synthesize years of internet information, simplifying overwhelm into reasonable starting points. In the same way that the dawn of the search engine streamlined computer use, OpenAI’s introduction of ChatGPT refreshed how we interact with information, improving human productivity across the board.
Education, however, was slower to adopt the promise of ChatGPT and artificial intelligence. It was used to cut corners, craft poorly researched essays and has fueled skepticism about what it may be used for in the wrong hands.
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Now that some time has passed, education leaders are revisiting the possibilities, even reversing previous bans, understanding that AI can have positive benefits when designed to benefit an already strained learning infrastructure.
Solving education’s data pain points
To evaluate how AI can be helpful in an educational setting, it’s important to understand the opportunity. A tell-tale sign of a strained education system begins when there is an imbalance in teacher time and workloads. Teachers currently spend most of their time on administrative tasks and grading, with little left to focus on instruction.
It’s not because teachers need more available tools. In fact, on average, there are 1,417 educational technology platforms used in school districts. Instead of more tools to manage, teachers and administrators need support managing an overload of data, which is where AI can be immediately helpful.
Parents also need easier ways to monitor their children’s progress without having to log into a myriad of learning applications, some of which only show their academic progress and not much else. And while you’d think there would be an existing fix, leading companies in the educational technology space lack the foundational architecture that is needed to connect the existing dots. They are designed for monitoring grades, but the U.S. Dept of Education’s Strategic Plan is actively emphasizing the need to support the holistic and individualized development of every child. Thankfully, AI can do this well and at the same time, give administrators time back to bolster the learning environment.
Giving teachers and administrators time back to focus on student growth
Post-pandemic staff shortages, declining education salaries and the demands of the industry have 56% of school leaders saying they are open to automation, but not all solutions are the same nor do they address the core issues. Structured data, documents and actionable information is what schools and students need to be successful. Put simply, teachers and students shouldn’t have to synthesize their own information to come to meaningful conclusions – they have enough on their plate as it is.
Thankfully, unlike the endless possibilities of ChatGPT, education management systems can make AI feel invisible to teachers with great design. The options to customize AI are endless, but some starting points can improve administrative flow right away.
An enhanced user flow designed specifically for teachers and administrators
A major hurdle for AI users is the open-ended possibilities. With closed data that is focused on schools and optimized for teachers, AI feels invisible to the user.
Built-in cross-subject connections to enhance student learning
Students may fall behind in a specific subject or need additional framing to gain full comprehension. With AI, a teacher can present their own topic in a way that their student excels in by drawing on the data and information that they have in real-time.
Simplified administrative tasks to free up time
Teachers cope with a high volume of administrative tasks and many of them are repetitive or can draw on information that they have available to them. And yet, teachers still manage to make lazy errors that can jeopardize a student’s future.
Letters of recommendation and lesson plans are two examples.
AI can give teachers a much better first draft to work with and customize.
Improved experiences for non-English speaking parents
Most systems for parents are clunky to navigate. Imagine that experience for students who have a language barrier. AI education management systems can improve the way these families understand the education system with a smooth translation process, synthesizing the question-and-answer flow.
Holistic education for students, powered by actionable data
AI in education means much more than students exploring how they can use AI tools to cut corners. Well-designed education management tools powered by AI present an opportunity to enhance the education system’s efficiency, administrative workflow, post-school outcomes and tailored pathways for students.
AI also has the potential to level the playing field and promote equity by giving students, teachers and parents unparalleled access to world-class information that is tailored to the needs of every learner and institution. By giving students and their parent’s access to powerful insights and resources tailored to their individual strengths both inside and outside of the classroom, it will not only create a more inclusive and diverse educational landscape but also ensure that every student has an opportunity to reach their full potential, regardless of their background or circumstances.
A path forward
Education poses immediate promise as a use case for AI. A well-designed education management platform powered by AI can free up time and eliminate high-volume administrative tasks, especially for teachers and administrators. In doing so, it’s a win-win for everyone, especially students, who will get more specialized attention from their greatest learning advocates – teachers.
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