Intelligent Systems in education apply big data, AI, and automation to improve the delivery and management of learning processes. For example, intelligent systems can personalize curricula, monitor learning progression, and help educators save time and make more effective decisions.
Compared to digital resources, intelligent systems work with a timely, learner-centered approach. They detect gaps in knowledge, offer suggestions, and reduce administrative burden.
Indeed, intelligent systems offer novel ways of utilizing learning environments in schools, vocational training facilities, and online programs. If used properly, intelligent systems can foster more individualized learning and offer better support to at-risk students, while enhancing the quality of decisions made by educators.
1. Intelligent Systems Can Create More Effective Individualized Learning Experiences
As discussed earlier, individual learners in an academic course move at their own pace. Intelligent systems facilitate adjustments to lesson plans instead of simply allowing learners to receive a lesson plan designed for the median learner.
Therefore, intelligent systems allow students to direct their practice toward the material they have yet to master, as opposed to the material they already understand. Furthermore, intelligent systems can encourage greater confidence among learners. When learners are given the chance to complete work at their level, they are able to expand their knowledge base and continue learning at a consistent rate.
Some examples of personalization in intelligent systems include:
- Adaptive quizzes that adjust the questions’ difficulty based on the learner’s previous answers
- Personalized practice/revision sets
- Adjustable learning speeds to accommodate students who need to learn faster or slower
- Personalized skill maps
One of the greatest advantages of adaptive learning systems is that they provide the opportunity for learners to master specific skills without the need to complete a curriculum at an artificial pace.
2. Intelligent Systems Give Feedback in The Moment and Aid Teachers and Students
Offering feedback as soon as teachers and students complete a task is extremely useful. Feedback is most effective when it addresses the learner’s comprehension in detail. Intelligent systems are able to offer feedback in the moment in the case of both students and instructors for any online or hybrid courses.
Feedback provided by the intelligent systems for the purpose of learning can also help instantaneously guide teachers as to what other students in the class might need. Feedback for learning can also help students to eliminate any misunderstandings prior to those misunderstandings becoming habitual.
Examples of intelligent systems with feedback in the moment include:
- Instant feedback with scoring and reasoning for incorrect answer
- Alerts for both students and teachers when a student is stuck
- Performance dashboards for students by topic
- Feedback on personal learning goals
Feedback for educators and students is a learning cycle. The educators and students respond to feedback and learning habits are reinforced and improved.
3. Smart Technology Systems Streamline Tasks and Alleviate Administrative Burden
Teachers and school managers have many recurring responsibilities, including:
- Attendance tracking
- Grade recording
- Schedule organization
- Report creation and distribution
Smart Technology Systems can help relieve some of this administrative burden, allowing more time for teaching and learner support.
Automating administrative tasks can help schools and training providers run their institutions more efficiently and with reduced administrative task errors.
Some examples of administrative tasks that are routinely automated with Smart Technology Systems include:
- Attendance tracking and reporting
- Collection of assignments, automated starting and sorting of grading
- Deadlines and homework reminders
- Reports for parents and stakeholders regarding learner progress
Having fewer administrative responsibilities enables teachers to provide higher quality instruction and to support learners more.
4. Advanced Smart Technology Systems Analytics Help Educators Develop Safe and Inclusive Learning Spaces
Smart Technology Systems provide teachers with individualized learning strategies and help identify learners who need additional help. This allows teachers to create safe and inclusive learning environments.
Additionally, intelligent systems can facilitate the assessment of learner engagement, and the analysis of behavioral trends that may signal learner stress, absenteeism, or difficulties in learning.
Implementing such capabilities must, however, ensure learner privacy and equity. The use of intelligent systems to collect data should be geared towards supporting learners to achieve their maximum potential and not classify learners.
Examples of data that can be used to create inclusive and safer learning environments include:
- An early warning system that identifies learners who may be at risk of attrition from a course/program of study
- Indicators of learner engagement (e.g. number of log-ins, participation and completion rates)
- Identifying topic/skill gaps in knowledge
- Identifying the learner-driven need and trends to help resource utilization in classrooms/programs
The responsible and supportive use of this data enables schools to identify learner needs earlier and to provide support to a greater number of learners.
Conclusion
The ability of intelligent systems to personalize, streamline, and enhance learning environments has had a profound impact on education. Intelligent systems, with their ability to respond to the needs of the learner, allow learners to hone in on the precise competencies that are essential for their success in any given course of study.
Smart systems help students improve their learning more easily by offering immediate feedback to teachers. Smart systems streamline administrative processes which gives teachers more time to focus on instruction and less on the administrative tasks associated with teaching.
Moreover, smart systems help educators by identifying patterns and providing solutions so less successful students are helped sooner. When implemented alongside well-defined objectives, effective boundaries on data protection, and human supervision, smart systems will produce better results.
Ultimately the improvement of education will be a function of how well technology enhances the role of the teacher, rather than how well it replaces the teacher.