24 March

Artificial Intelligence in Digital Learning

Artificial Intelligence. A term that may seem futuristic to some, a concept that feels far-fetched and out of reach. However, when you strip away some of the myths, artificial intelligence already plays a huge role in our day to day lives. For example, think about when you have a question that you need answered quickly. You may ask Siri, or even Alexa, as if she is a knowledge wiz standing in the kitchen with you. A smart assistant is just one example of AI being used regularly in our daily lives. 

Within the digital learning sector, AI is pushing the market for education in new and exciting directions. It will majorly aid in the automation of learning, helping to create personalised experiences for learners by tailoring to their individual needs. AI is also allowing educators to create intuitive exams, targeting ideal learning requirements. A research report by Global Market Insights highlighted that AI in the educational sector will exceed $6 billion by 2024. 

The Benefits of Artificial Intelligence in Learning 

  1. Personalisation

AI can help transform traditional learning into interactive lessons and practice sessions with instantaneous feedback & comprehensive exams. It can tailor content to individual learner requirements, while still availing of video/audio lessons for realistic classroom conditions. 

  1. Accessibility

Artificial Intelligence makes learning inclusive, being adaptable for all learners needs and disabilities. Just one example of this being AI text-to-speech allows for visually impaired learners to learn material through audio. (Look out for some content on Accessibility in digital learning, coming soon!) 

  1. Digital Tutoring

Artificial Intelligence has the potential to act as a digital tutor, where students can question the AI engine & promptly receive the appropriate answer. It closes the disparity in learning and in doing so establishes an enhanced learning environment. 

DARPA (Defence Approach Research Agency) recently sponsored a study which involved using a digital tutor to mimic the interaction between an experienced specialist and a learner, with the optimal outcome to reduce the time for navy trainees to learn high-tech skills. The experiment revealed that when working with AI digital tutors, learners outperformed the experienced experts and obtained the high-tech skills quicker.  

artificial intelligence and digital learning
  1. Automating Educator Admin Tasks

AI systems can grade multi-choice questions, reducing the workload for educators and the margin of human error. Furthermore, artificial intelligence can help create effective Instructional Design strategies and lessen the time it takes educators/ instructional designers to develop a course. 

  1. Improved Learner Engagement

AI is smart, it’s in the name! It can easily analyse learner behaviour based on their performance and intuitively meet their overall objectives. This adaptability creates a more engaging and exiting experience for learners. 

Think about the popular language-learning app Duolingo. Learning consists of microlearning lessons, combined with gamification and AI enabled chatbots for real-time conversations. 

Conclusion

Artificial Intelligence is not only beneficial to learners, but to educators too. It can be seen throughout higher education in grading assessments, LMSs (Learning Management Systems) invigilating, disability support, and the list goes on. 

AI is constantly evolving, with the future potential unknown. But one thing is certain: it will continue to support educators in creating the most efficient learning experiences.  

References

The Benefits of Immersive Learning