A year ago, fear about AI in schools dominated the headlines. People had major concerns about plagiarism and cheating. And though these concerns still linger with AI in schools, more people are talking about the benefits of AI for students. They’re excited about how AI will improve education.
Time has passed, chatbots have gotten better, and tech companies and educators are working together to make tools that are effective for use in schools. Here are 3 practical benefits of AI for students, benefits that will impact and improve students’ learning.
1. AI tools will assist teachers (and parents too).
Learning with the help of genAI is now a thing. At school, my kids are using Quizlet, an AI tutor that can produce flashcards, sample tests, and study guides. Quizlet is also one of the 19 “Best AI Tools Transforming Education,” according to Bernard Marr in an article for Forbes. Another AI tool, Project Toni, was developed by English teacher Adrian Antao with the nonprofit Playlab.ai. Project Toni is in some classrooms right now, but it’s also available online for free. It’s an AI writing tool that helps students with the writing process. It won’t write an essay for you, but it will provide suggestions, coaching, and feedback. As a former English teacher myself, I think this tool will be a game-changer for kids who struggle with writing.
Another big player in education is the nonprofit Khan Academy, which has developed an integrated tutor called Khanmigo. It works with students at their own speeds, giving feedback and breaking down problems. This video explains how the School District of Palm Beach County is implementing Khanmigo in classrooms.
2. AI tools will provide immediate feedback to kids.
When kids are in a typical classroom working on a problem, the teacher can only help one stumped student at a time. But having an AI-powered tutor at each desk allows kids to ask questions and receive help immediately, without having to wait. Not only can I see this cutting down on student misbehavior (which is a natural consequence of waiting for their turn), but it’ll keep students on task longer because their questions are being answered in real time.
Mat Pullen of Jamf, a device management platform, says AI can provide instantaneous and detailed feedback on students’ performance, “allowing them to understand their strengths and weaknesses.” Having instant feedback has the potential to really enhance kids’ understanding of whatever it is they’re working on, keeping them up to speed with everyone else.
3. AI tools can help with kids’ confidence.
Teachers crave student participation. Seeing kids raise their hands to ask or answer a question gets teachers excited, plus it lets them know if their students are on track and learning. But what about quieter students? Or the ones who are afraid of asking a “stupid” question? These children, along with those who think they’re behind, are the ones who are least likely to participate in class. But AI can make a difference.
Educational AI tools can provide constructive feedback without judgment. This allows kids to more willingly “engage, take risks, and be vulnerable,” according to Stanford University. What a great benefit. My child struggles to participate in class, and I know it works against him. But if he could receive immediate, impartial feedback from an AI-powered tutor, I know he’d engage more with the material. Ran Liu, chief AI scientist at Amira Learning, says this could build students’ self-confidence. Who doesn’t want that for their child?
Sound off: Have you seen AI impact your kids at all yet? In what ways?
Huddle up with your kids and ask, “If you could have an assistant at your desk at school who could help you with one subject, which subject would you choose?”