Should we go back to old school examinations? Are we being replaced by AI? The answer is a clear “no”.
AI in higher education: A blessing or a curse?
By Esra Aldhaen, Executive Director Strategy, Quality and Sustainability, Ahlia University
During COVID-19, the education sector appreciated the use of technology and revised a number of teaching strategies and philosophies towards integrating advanced ICT and technological tools. At the same time, a number of researchers highlighted the need to define clear ethical standards to support the integration of digital transformation.
At a closer look however, it seems that the expedition of technology is faster than setting standards and there is a need to carefully design policies and procedures to serve the higher education institutions (HEIs) towards the advantage of the organisation and the students.
Several AI tools such as ChatGPT, Zero, AL Content are effective in terms of providing academic writing, however there are still major functions lacking, such as cultural sensitivity and intellectual discrimination. Such awareness cannot be captured in AI tools as they lack of emotional intelligence.
In the long-term, the use of AI by students may have an impact on the level of a graduate’s employability skills. For instance, acquiring skills such as critical thinking and problem solving may be affected. Students also might tend to use AI tools for submitting assignments without confirming the content against the actual learning outcome pertaining to the course.
The presence of AI has been a “wakeup call” to revise the academic curricular to include courses integrating the use of new technologies, and establish a new pedagogical framework that covers different digitalised teaching, learning and assessment methods that are AI focused,such as robotics, gamification, and simulation.
HEIs must also consider upgrading their current ethical courses to focus on digital ethics . The pedagogical framework should be managed by clear digital ethics standards to ensure academic integrity, which needs to be then clearly communicated to students through different trainings and workshops.
A major fear of academics and some frequently asked question are: should we go back to old school examinations? Are we being replaced by AI? The answer is a clear “no”. It is time to have a clear faculty development strategy that puts forward clear guidelines for different teaching, learning and assessment methods during this transition.
The use of AI at HEIs could be useful, however the conduct of the practices must be tested and measured to allow using the experience as an added advantage into teaching and learning. Regulatory and policy makers are required to have clear guidelines about culturalsensitivity and discrimination that could be used as reference points by HEIs while drafting digital ethical standards.
Transforming education with AI
"Educational institutions must develop strict policies that prohibit the use of AI-powered tools for cheating."
By Alina Galeyeva, Dean of the Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Technology, Al-Farabi Kazakh National University
Artificial intelligence (AI) is a rapidly growing technology that has the potential to revolutionise many fields, including education. From making education more accessible, to developing more personalised curricula that meet the needs of individual students, AI-powered technologies can help to improve the sector in many ways. However, there are also challenges associated with the use of AI in education, including privacy and security concerns, as well as the potential for exacerbating inequality.
One of the key advantages of using AI in education is the increased accessibility of education. By leveraging AI, institutions can offer more online courses and mobile learning apps that are available in different languages, enabling students from different regions and countries to learn. AI can also help to make education more accessible to students with different levels of preparation, using an individualised approach to learning that takes into account each student's unique needs.
Students are also able to create more personalised learning programs for themselves using such technology. By using data about the student's interests, learning style, and previous learning experiences, AI can create a unique curriculum that is tailored to individual needs. This can lead to improved learning outcomes and increased student motivation.
Moreover, AI can help teachers in their work. For example, AI can analyse data to identify areas where students are struggling with and provide suggestions for improvement. Teachers can also grade assignments more efficiently, freeing up more time for them to focus on other aspects of their work.
Despite the potential benefits of AI in education, there are also challenges associated with its use.
One of the most pressing concerns is academic dishonesty, or cheating. With AI tools, students are able to easily produce answers to assignments and exams in order to deceive their instructors and obtain higher grades. This can be detrimental not only to students who work honestly but also to educators who strive to accurately evaluate their students' knowledge and skills.
To mitigate this problem, educational institutions must develop strict policies that prohibit the use of AI-powered tools for cheating. Methods for detecting and controlling suspicious answers and behavior should also be developed .
Moreover, AI can also create issues related to privacy and data security. With the collection and processing of vast amounts of data, there is the risk that sensitive information about students and educators may be compromised. Educational institutions must prioritise the protection of personal data and develop comprehensive policies that ensure the safe and ethical use of AI.
Another issue that could come up with AI in education is the potential for exacerbating inequality. Some experts argue that AI can worsen existing inequalities by favouring students who have access to technology and know how to use it, while disadvantaging those who do not. To prevent this, educational institutions must ensure that all students have equal access to technology and that AI is used in a way that promotes equality in education.
It is important that educational institutions carefully consider the use of AI in education and take steps to mitigate the risks while harnessing the benefits of this transformative technology. This essay was written in collaboration with the AI platform ChatGPT 3.0, with the drawing created using AI Midjourney.
