Impact of AI and Automation on Higher Education

Innovation and automation are central to most organizational functions, including the education institutes that use the latest tech solutions. No wonder AI in education has emerged as one of the most influential mediums of transformation.

Algorithmic abilities, self-evaluation mechanisms, and data-backed analytics are some of the features of AI that have accelerated overall productivity. Therefore, institutes can automate tedious and repetitive tasks and streamline time-consuming activities.

What Is AI in Education?

Artificial intelligence (AI) is a hi-tech computer technology that executes the cognitive functions of human minds, including reasoning, perceiving, and learning. Also, it performs specific tasks like interacting with an environment and problem-solving.

One of the most common uses of AI in day-to-day life is voice assistants to gather information and service chatbots to navigate websites. Besides, AI uses complex algorithms and mathematical models to analyze data and extract patterns.

In the context of education, AI has revolutionized traditional teaching and learning practices, assisting in bridging the learning and skill gaps. Furthermore, the AI in the education market will grow from 3.79 billion dollars to 20.54 billion dollars by 2027.

The growth in the market size clearly indicates the ever-growing use of AI to facilitate independent learning. Furthermore, AI solutions help to create an engaging and interactive learning environment.

The Role of AI and Automation in Higher Education

1. Automation of Administrative Tasks

Administrative activities are just as important as academic processes; however, the former can take too much time. For instance, sorting and organizing exam question papers and admission-related documents can take up too much time.

That is why integrating AI and ERP in higher education is the ultimate solution to automate various administrative tasks. Consequently, institutes can simplify the enrollment process by streamlining the various associated formalities.

Besides, AI technology has multiple advantages, which are as follows:

• Natural Language Processing (NLP) helps to analyze large data sets, provide a more objective analysis, and streamline daily processes.
• Robotic Process Automation (RPA) automates repetitive tasks and ensures a smooth workflow. Hence, it handles common administrative activities like data entry, transcript evaluation, etc.
• AI solutions enable teachers to check and evaluate homework, grade test papers, and organize research documents.
• It automates everyday activities in reduced time; therefore, teachers and staff can invest time in more important tasks.

2. Smart Content

Text-book-oriented learning and teacher-centered instruction have taken a backseat in the current educational scenario. On the contrary, incorporating multimedia into educational material is a vital source of teaching and learning.

Furthermore, smart content optimizes AI to understand and analyze students' learning styles, behaviors, performances, and preferences. AI-smart content creation includes the following:

• Information Visualization: Modern educational approaches go beyond conventional classroom teaching. For instance, teachers can use AI to demonstrate simulations of places, events, or projects.
• The utilization of 2D or 3D visualization enables teachers to break down complex concepts into understandable content. For instance, 3D models of a plant help understand its distinguishing features, including chloroplasts, cell walls, and intracellular vacuoles.
• Microlearning: Teachers can use higher education ERP to generate simplified digital lessons in the form of microlearning. Furthermore, microlearning lessons break down subject matters and concepts into bite-sized information.
• Students can access microlearning lessons from any device and learn according to their pace and comfort.
• Content Updates: The tool helps teachers create and update information regularly, allowing learners to be up-to-date and complete tasks accordingly.

3. Adaptive Access

Making education equitable and accessible to all students is one of the primary duties of educational institutes. Therefore, integrating higher education ERP helps leverage the advantages of artificial intelligence.

In fact, the tool provides features like multilingual support, helping to translate educational content and information in several languages. On the other hand, teachers can use the software to meet varied learning requirements.

For instance, AI plays a significant role in providing adaptive access to visually or hearing-impaired students. Also, they can avail of many assorted facilities, including:

• Generative AI can help provide additional learning support to disabled students through alternative assessment and instruction methods.
• It can convert text-based resources into speech, helping students learn through the auditory medium.
• It can also generate descriptive narratives of diagrams and images, which aids students in accessing visual content via image recognition technology.
• Learning difficulties are common for students with ADHD, as they cannot focus during long and monotonous classes. AI can create short, interactive video content, quick quizzes, and visual content.

4. Addressing the skill gap

Relevant skills and competencies are crucial for professional and career success; hence, education must employ suitable pedagogies. Institutes must employ top-of-the-line tech solutions, including ERP in higher education, to upskill students.

Besides, the 21st-century workspace is competitive and complex and requires individuals with specific skills to deal with challenges. For example, hard and soft skills are equally essential for students to function effectively in an ever-changing world.

Some of the hard skills include:

• Artificial Intelligence
• Database management
• Project management
• Data Engineering
• Agile software
• SEO marketing

Some of the soft skills include:

• Problem-solving
• Teamwork
• Emotional intelligence
• Time management
• Conflict resolution
• Technological literacy

Teachers can use AI-based skill assessment to utilize varied methods, including simulations, games, or projects, to assess students' skills and knowledge. Furthermore, AI and ML-powered software and applications help to upskill students.

5. Data-Based Feedback

How do you determine if a pedagogical approach works or not? Is there a way to assess students' continuous progress? The answers to both questions lie in feedback, which provides insight into the effectiveness of a particular mechanism or process.

The AI solution analyzes the behavior and performance of individual students and generates analytic reports. Hence, teachers can check the reports periodically and provide students with data-based feedback.

In addition, it allows teachers to identify their strengths and weaknesses in real time, enabling students to improve their performance accordingly.

6. Predictive Analytics

Artificial intelligence’s predictive analytic tool is an advanced technology that identifies students’ behavior and performance patterns. Additionally, it analyzes vast amounts of data and provides data-driven insights to improve student outcomes.

Furthermore, AI algorithms process real-time data, including student engagement, attendance, and participation in online activities. Monitoring and tracking these factors allows teachers and institutes to detect at-risk students.

Consequently, teachers can develop mitigation strategies by involving parents to provide adequate support and resources.

7. AI-Proctored Exams

Ethical, authoritative, and effective mechanisms ensure the success of examinations, enabling teachers to evaluate students. However, the lack of proper measures compromises the integrity of online assessments.

Institutes must implement strategic plans of action to counter such issues, including using AI to prevent malpractices. AI-proctoring software utilizes advanced features like facial recognition, eye tracking, etc. to monitor student activity.

Furthermore, the software can detect if the test-taker looks away from the screen or checks other devices. AI can detect the immediate surroundings of the student, such as the sounds of others, in terms of someone prompting answers.

It can determine suspicious behavior like the rapid movement of the mouse or copying and pasting. Moreover, apart from ensuring the exam’s authenticity, it provides other facilities such as:

• Teachers can use AI in education to automate the grading and evaluation of exams, helping to save time and improve accuracy.
• They can check and grade objective questions, such as multiple-choice questions, true/false questions, and matching questions, automatically.
• Subjective questions such as essays and short-answer questions are also easy to evaluate with the AI, but only with the teacher’s intervention.
• Institutes can use AI to assess and prevent unethical practices, including plagiarism and impersonation. For instance, they can verify the student’s identity and determine if they have been using any unauthorized materials.
• Determining patterns of cheating, such as groups of students giving the same answers, becomes easier with AI.

8. Personalized Learning

The traditional or conventional educational system fails to address the individual needs of students. Therefore, a uniform instructional method has been a key element, which does not necessarily benefit all students.

That is why personalized learning is the need of the hour, and AI provides the essential medium to customize education according to the learner’s needs. Teachers and institutes can create an engaging and personalized learning system in the following ways:

• They can employ AI algorithms to adapt the learning content accordingly, depending on the student’s performance in various subjects.
• AI-powered tutoring systems provide individualized advice and recommendations to students.
• It blends several components like text, audio, video, images, and interactive elements, helping to create an interactive and engaging learning environment.

9. Query Resolution with AI Chatbots

Virtual chat support is one of the most useful features that AI facilitates, which helps students get assistance immediately. Whether it is specific information or a suitable solution to a problem, students can access timely assistance.

Besides, it helps to develop students' self-advocacy skills and self-directed learning as they take charge of their learning process. It sends updates about upcoming assignments, events, and achievements.