Artificial Intelligence (AI) has made it possible to meet diverse student learning needs; and is helping schools across the world operate more efficiently.
The National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and the National Curriculum Framework (NCF) for School Education both emphasise the importance of integrating technology and innovation in schools – to improve learning outcomes and prepare students for the future. Both highlight the importance of 21st-century skills such as Critical Thinking, Problem-solving, Creativity and Collaboration. AI can play a significant role in fostering these skills through project-based learning, interactive simulation and adaptive learning.
Integration of AI in Education Systems
Recent years have witnessed increased integration of AI into education systems, with applications ranging from automated grading systems to virtual classroom assistants. AI- powered tools have become commonplace, streamlining administrative tasks and providing data-driven insights to educators. South-East Asian countries like Singapore have implemented
AI-driven Learning Management Systems (LMS) in schools to enhance teaching efficiency and student engagement. AI can be used to identify each student’s current language proficiency levels and allocate the right learning program to bring the student to grade-level proficiency quickly.
Future of AI
Personalised Classrooms
Leveraging vast data resources, AI can help teachers identify individual student learning gaps within classrooms. Additionally, by tailoring personalised remedial content based on the diverse learning styles in a classroom, AI can empower educators to bring every student up to speed
Tailored Learning Paths
By analysing data related to student learning outcomes and interests, AI can craft curriculum-aligned content personalised for each learner’s needs. This can help build a learning path that is unique to each child, based on her strengths, learning style and remedial needs. This adaptive content approach will help ensure that students stay motivated and connected with their studies, fostering a life-long love for learning.
AI-Powered Assessment Building
Each classroom is different, with unique learning and assessment needs. AI can generate tailored assessments for specific classroom needs, considering factors like difficulty levels, question types and topic coverage. These assessments, initially created by bots, can be further refined by teachers as necessary
AI for English Instruction
Non-native English-speaking students struggle to understand subjects at school. This can be addressed by teaching English as a skill, together with other children at similar skill levels. AI can be used to identify each student’s current language proficiency levels and allocate the right learning program to bring the student to grade – level proficiency quickly
AI-Generated Content
The learning needs and styles of each child is different. This creates a massive ask for educators to develop more and more content to enable each child to progress. This is a time-consuming and expensive process. AI can assist educators in efficiently and swiftly creating customised content. This streamlines the process, ensuring that every student receives tailored educational materials.
AI in Special Education
AI is a revolutionary opportunity for students with learning disabilities. AI-powered tools identify specific challenges and adapt learning strategies such as speech recognition technology or AI-driven visual aids to help students with visual impairments.
AI tools are also streamlining administrative tasks, from grading assignments to managing admissions and scheduling. This automation allows educators and administrators to focus more on teaching and less on time- consuming paperwork.
Can AI Replace Teachers?
If your prompt ‘Will generative AI replace teachers in India’s classrooms?’ in ChatGPT, the response indicates how Generative AI has the potential to enhance educational experiences in many ways, including personalised learning, content creation and administrative tasks.
However, it’s unlikely that it will completely replace teachers in India’s classrooms in the foreseeable future. Here’s why.
Human Connection: Teaching involves more than just conveying information. It requires empathy, understanding, and the ability to connect with students on a personal level. While AI can assist with certain tasks, it lacks the emotional intelligence and interpersonal skills that human teachers possess.
Complexity of Learning: Education is much more than just delivering information. Teachers play a crucial role in facilitating discussions and fostering critical thinking. They are also able to adapt instruction based on students’ needs and feedback. Generative AI may struggle to replicate the nuanced understanding and adaptability that human teachers provide.
Cultural and Linguistic Diversity: India is a diverse country with multiple languages, cultures and educational backgrounds. Teaching often requires an understanding of these cultural nuances and the ability to communicate in various languages. While AI can assist with language translation and content creation, it may not fully understand the cultural context or nuances required for effective teaching.
Ethical and Social Considerations: There are ethical concerns regarding the use of AI in education, particularly around data privacy, algorithmic bias and the potential for making existing educational inequalities worse.
Deploying AI as a replacement for teachers raises questions about access to quality education and the role of human educators in society, which is irreplaceable.
Supporting, Not Replacing: Rather than replacing teachers, AI is more likely to serve as a tool to support educators in their roles.
For example, AI can help automate administrative tasks, provide personalised learning experiences, and offer additional resources for students and teachers. By augmenting rather than replacing human teachers, AI can enhance the quality and accessibility of education in India and beyond.
Chief Product Officer
LEAD Group
AI has significant potential to revolutionise education in India. However, challenges such as infrastructure limitations, concerns about data privacy and security, and the need for teacher training and capacity building will need to be first addressed. This will help harness the true potential of AI in Indian school classrooms. Additionally, ensuring equitable access to AI-powered educational technologies across socio- economic backgrounds will be crucial for achieving inclusive and equitable education in India.
The Use of AI in School Classrooms in India
In August 2023, India’s first ‘AI school’ was launched in Kerala. The Santhigiri Vidyabhavan was launched in Kerala’s capital city, Thiruvananthapuram and inaugurated by former President Ram Nath Kovind. The school uses AI technologies such as Machine Learning, Natural Language Processing and Data Analysis, in various aspects of education, including curriculum design, personalised learning, assessment and student support. From helping to teach English, to assisting teachers with lesson plans and identifying pupils with remedial needs, AI tools are helping to bridge learning gaps that widened in India’s schools during the COVID-19 pandemic. From AI-enabled tablets, curricula and operations to robot teachers, India has seen AI integration in its schools in various ways over the past couple of years.
How Nations Worldwide Are Driving AI In Education
Singapore’s ‘Smart Nation’ strategy is geared towards positioning the country as a world leader in AI by 2030 by bringing together researchers, government and industry. One objective is to help teachers better customise and improve education for every student, particularly those with special needs.
South Korea has implemented AI-based systems to adapt homework and assignments based on students’ educational levels and tendencies and learning behaviours. Each child will have a personalised AI tutor and access to an online learning platform, allowing teachers to focus on social-emotional and hands-on lessons.
Finland, known for its high-quality education system and teacher-centric system, has embraced AI with a commitment to educate its citizens with free online coursework.
China has heavily invested in tools such as adaptive tutoring platforms which rely on large-scale data sets and camera surveillance. Many of these systems focus heavily on improving performance on standardised tests.
