Generative artificial intelligence (Generative AI) technology is widely applied in many fields, including smart education, bringing many practical benefits.

In recent times, the world has witnessed unprecedented growth in the development and use of Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI). This technology is just beginning to shape various aspects of our lives. One area that is expected to see profound transformation is education.

GenAI, powered by models like Open AI's ChatGPT, Google's Bard, and others, has the potential to revolutionize current teaching and learning methods.

How is AI changing the education industry?

Let's explore some of the ways GenAI can impact education and reshape the future of learning.

1. Personal learning

One of the first thoughts is that using GenAI in education will bring a kind of personalized learning experience. Normally, we read a book, think about the content, and have our own learning experience. But with GenAI, we seem to own a huge library of knowledge.

With the help of GenAI tools in education, students can learn about almost anything, anytime they want, assuming of course the model has data on the subject. Generative AI models are similar to personal tutors, assisting users with questions and requests.

Traditional classroom environments often struggle to meet the diverse learning needs of individual students. GenAI technology has the potential to create adaptive learning platforms that tailor content and meet individual learning needs, preferences, and styles.

Not only does this improve engagement and collaboration, it has the potential to improve overall learning outcomes. It will be interesting to see how educators and technologists innovate together in this field to discover more learning tools that can improve the quality of education.

2. Content production

GenAI tools are great at generating content. After all, these large language models (LLMs) are trained on huge collections of text, words, and phrases.

For example, ChatGPT is a large language model that statistically analyzes word usage patterns. The GenAI engine sorts and recalls words in a statistically predictable way based on user prompts, questions, or queries.

Of course, the question is whether the generated content is accurate. Currently, one of the biggest limitations is that GenAI tools have the potential to “hallucinate” and provide inaccurate information, especially when they have not been trained on the topic being queried. That is why it is imperative that users review and verify the authenticity of the content generated by GenAI tools.

But there’s no denying that for a student struggling to write a paper, or anyone struggling with writing, GenAI can be a useful starting point. That’s why educators have been quick to condemn, and in some cases, ban, students from using GenAI, viewing it as cheating.

Meanwhile, teachers are also likely to use GenAI to assist in content creation by automating the creation of syllabi, lesson plans, lecture notes, and other learning materials. Using GenAI, teachers will be able to focus more on teaching and less on preparing materials, thereby creating more dynamic and up-to-date educational resources.

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And for educators who are resistant to students using GenAI, a recent newsletter offered a pretty good solution: Allow students to use generative AI to create content (with appropriate fact-checking), but instead of submitting a typical written assignment, teachers could ask students to memorize that material and give a speech or presentation to the entire class.

Repetition of information helps reinforce concepts, improve memory retention and skill development, and allows students to master knowledge across complex topics.

Additionally, speaking and presenting in front of an audience helps build self-confidence, preparing students for the real world, where the ability to express, persuade, and present ideas are important skills.

3. Tutoring and support

Chatbots and virtual tutors will become increasingly common in the education environment. They have proven their capabilities by solving customer service questions on many websites. GenAI tools provide instant feedback, answer questions, and help students learn quickly.

With the right prompts, GenAI tools can even be used to prepare questions and practice questions right in class. These real-time support tools not only help students grasp concepts more quickly and effectively, but also reduce the burden on teachers, allowing them to pay more individual attention to each student.

4. Other learning advances

Learning a new language can be a challenge for many, but GenAI tools are making significant strides in language education. AI-powered language apps and chatbots engage learners in real-life conversations, provide feedback on pronunciation, and even generate culturally relevant content to immerse learners in the language learning experience. This will make learning another language more interactive and accessible.

Ultimately, GenAI is sure to transform education for people with disabilities. Transcription services automatically convert speech to text, making lectures and educational videos more accessible to people with hearing loss.

Similarly, text can also be easily converted to audio, and content can be converted into a variety of formats, such as braille or tactile graphics, to cater to the needs of visually impaired learners.

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Challenges in applying GenAI to education

Along with the visible opportunities, the application of generative AI in education also faces a number of challenges, including:

1. Management work

In May 2023, a UNESCO global survey of more than 450 schools and universities found that less than 10% had developed institutional policies and/or formal guidance related to the use of generative AI applications.

They also found that in most countries, the steps and authorizations required to certify a new textbook are much more complex than those required to bring generative AI into schools and classrooms.

Textbooks are typically rigorously evaluated for content accuracy, age-appropriateness, instructional content, and cultural and social relevance, including checks for biased content, before they are used in the classroom.

2. Industry specific rules

The education sector cannot rely on generative AI tool providers to regulate its own work. If it wants to test and validate new and complex generative AI applications for official use in schools, UNESCO recommends that education ministries build their capacity by working with other government regulators, especially technology regulators.

3. The role of teachers

AI in general and generative AI in particular are believed to have the potential to undermine the role of teachers by further automating education: Schools without teachers and education without schools.

However, the essence of education must still be a deeply humane act, rooted in social interaction. During the COVID-19 pandemic, when digital technology became the main means of education, students also had to take a long time to adapt and encountered certain difficulties.

This highlights that schools can apply generative AI to operate better with just the right number of teachers, while still ensuring the quality of teaching and learning.

Read more: EDUTO’s AI Library

EDUTO – Leading Technology Partner in Vietnam

EDUTO – Leading Technology Partner in Vietnam

Established in 2020, EDUTO is one of the leading IT companies in Vietnam, specializing in providing digital transformation consulting services and software solutions in the fields of finance, healthcare and retail for domestic and international enterprises. With the desire to contribute to enhancing Vietnam's position on the global IT map, EDUTO aims to bring innovative technology to life by leveraging the technical workforce in Vietnam, and the vision of becoming a leading IT company in the ASEAN region.

Conclude

In the future, GenAI is likely to play a major role in helping people acquire new skills and knowledge. This technology has the potential to transform education in ways we couldn’t have imagined just a few years ago. From personalized learning experiences to content production, GenAI makes teaching and learning more engaging, accessible, and effective for learners of all ages.

However, it is important to remember that while AI is a powerful tool, the role of experts and teachers in guiding and shaping the learning process remains irreplaceable.

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