Learning with AI - how will this change our world?

There is no escaping it anymore. Artificial Intelligence is “here to stay”. Because we at Pluvo are forward-thinking and prefer to prepare for the future rather than focus on the past, we are diving into this fascinating development across four blog posts.

In this blog, we start at the beginning. With a bit of history, the opinion of AI itself, and our perspective on how AI is set to enrich learning.

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What is Artificial Intelligence?

Artificial Intelligence (AI) consists of automated systems capable of performing tasks that previously required human intelligence. These systems work through specific algorithms. They are able to recognize patterns and make decisions, and just like humans, they improve the more they practice. An example of this technology is the AI chatbot ChatGPT, which has been accessible to the general public since November 2022. This chatbot answers questions and bases its responses on information from millions of indexed web pages. It is a form of 'generative AI' because it generates text based on the information provided.

What does AI (ChatGPT) think about it?

“In the future, I see AI, such as ChatGPT, playing an essential role in enriching learning by providing personalized and adaptive learning tools. By continuously learning and evolving, AI can offer support that closely aligns with individual needs, thereby optimizing the learning experience.”

That sounds good, right?

How is AI changing our online education?

AI is set to revolutionize online learning by personalizing learning experiences, automating tasks, and providing valuable insights into learner performance. AI is being used to create adaptive learning platforms that adjust the content and pace of instruction to the specific needs and preferences of each individual learner. This increases engagement and improves learning outcomes.

In addition, AI-powered tools can automate administrative tasks such as grading assignments, generating feedback, and managing course materials, leaving trainers and educators with more time for valuable interaction with learners.

AI algorithms can also analyze large amounts of data to measure patterns and trends in learner performance, allowing trainers to intervene early and provide targeted support and feedback.

‍A practical example

Glean is a fantastic example of how AI tools can make learning much easier for students and trainees. Glean records the audio of the lesson and allows learners to revisit the lesson at their own pace, add detailed notes, and highlight essential information.

This way, learners never have to miss a thing and can truly focus on the learning experience instead of frantically trying to write everything down while they actually want to listen and participate. What a solution!

Focus on the right things

There has been a lot of commotion among traditional educators regarding developments in AI. Students and trainees can now all use ChatGPT.

It is therefore our job as educators or trainers to respond to this. This requires us to rethink our approach.

For example, if we previously had students or trainees write a paper to demonstrate their knowledge, that doesn't make much sense anymore. If they know a little bit about how to enter an effective prompt into AI, AI will write a paper for them without a second thought. So how can we test their knowledge and skills? By using different methods of assessment, educators and trainers can measure the knowledge and skills of their students and trainees in a more authentic way.

Think, for example, of using practical assignments, presentations, case studies, group projects, portfolio evaluations, and structured oral exams.

Shouldn't we have done this a long time ago? 😉

‍Are there any downsides?

Certainly. AI is still quite prone to errors. You therefore cannot simply assume that AI will make the right adjustments, interpret data 100% accurately, or have sufficient "knowledge" of subjects and teaching materials. Accepting this blindly can lead to major blunders.

That is why it remains essential for an expert to have final responsibility for the content of teaching materials, the learning environment, lessons, and assessments.

We also don't want learning to become a lonely endeavor. In the world of e-learning, we have worked very hard in recent years to make online learning as personal as possible. If we then deploy a "robot" to maintain contact with our students and provide them with "standard" feedback, all that effort will have been for nothing. In addition, data, privacy, and ethical considerations also play a role.

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‍The future
In our view, AI has become an indispensable part of e-learning. Advanced AI tools make learning even more personal, improve evaluations and create valuable content. As if that weren't enough, AI will also play a role in the rise of Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality in education, making learning experiences even more fun and exciting. Developments are moving at lightning speed, and we are following them closely. So be sure to read our upcoming blogs about AI or get in touch with us.

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