Online Education AI: In this article, we’ll be highlighting how AI has helped in online education, especially in the current pandemic. First of all, people who are wondering what AI is, we need to clarify that question. AI or Artificial Intelligence is a field of study, where intelligence is demonstrated by machines. The biggest example of AI can be Alexa by Amazon, Google, and Siri by Apple. All these are AIs.
In the current pandemic that has hit hard to even the strongest powers of the world, most of the organizations have introduced AI-based workings for better working. We can especially see the use of artificial intelligence in online education. Education in every country has a basic style of teaching. No matter how advanced a country is, the physical or face to face teaching has never grown old. But, because of the current pandemic, this method of teaching can not be carried out for the sake of everyone’s safety. So let’s bring how AI has contributed to online teaching into the limelight.
Conversational Agents – Online Education AI
Conversational agents or chatbots are a type of agent which texts like humans. In simple words, we can say that they mimic human conversation with a real human. We can take an example of some emails that are not written by humans itself but are recorded by them and the computer itself sends and receives emails by or to the recipient. These agents can be highly found in educational apps like Byjus, Vedanta, etc. These are the applications for the students where they can continue their studies while sitting at their homes. But not every time teachers or tutors are available on the other side as they are human too. The video lessons are pre-recorded and the answers to the questions are also pre-written. This helps students to get their questions answered in real-time.
No Language Barrier –
We all know that India is a secular country with over 22 languages and more than 720 dialects spoken. Not every student from different states and with different language preferences can understand English or Hindi. So the online education applications have introduced real-time language translation making it easier for students to attend their lectures in the language they are comfortable with, and this can also ensure better understanding and learning.
Accurate Notes –
Online education apps also provide students with accurate and brief notes about the lesson they are running. This helps students to have the notes ready and can go through the lesson when they are out of an internet connection. Some students though understand what their tutors are teaching them through videos but some children need hard copies for a clear understanding. The children can download to download the notes and can even take printouts of the same.
Aptitude Based Learning –
Every child has her/his way to go about their lesson. Some students are visual learners, some are audio learners and some practical learners. Not only these factors but the emotional and physical state of the children also matters, how fast or slow the lesson should be running. Online education has made this possible for all the students to take their lessons according to their speed. All the ED-tech platforms have introduced an aptitude test that a student takes before actually starting their session. This aptitude test enables the tutor to plan out the lesson according to the student’s strength.
Regular and Precise Evaluation –
As students, we are aware of the number of tests our teachers prepared after each lesson. Well, those tests and evaluations were for our good. The saying goes correct that “Practice makes a human perfect” or “Try Try Until you Succeed”. In online education apps, students are provided with regular and real-time evaluation for each and every lesson. The good thing these evaluations follow is that they take care of every minor mistake a student makes during the test. The mistakes are then rectified and are made clear to the student and a re-test is conducted. This step is important so that students can pay attention to even minor details of the lesson.
Government Initiatives in Online Education –
No doubt with the hard hit of the current pandemic, many sectors have been facing a crisis. The education sector is a kind of sector which can’t bear any losses, especially when it comes to the future of the country. The government in its relief plan has introduced e-Vidya under which IITs and IIMs are given a green flag for online modules for the students. These institutes were not allowed for online classes as the courses are practically based and are much more complex. Also, the existing online portals like Swayam and Diksha are integrated. Swayam is a MOOC for the students from class 9 to Post-Graduate for transferable credits and Diksha is a teacher-centric platform. There are many more initiatives by the government for the hindrance-free online education for the students across the country.
These were the initiatives taken by the central government in online education, but the state government has stepped forward to help the students and teachers to fill-out the gap. The Himachal Government has deployed ed-tech in approx. all the schools in Himachal Pradesh. Teachers are being trained on how to use multi-sensory AI software like ReadToMe.
Likewise, many other state governments have introduced various plans to help out the students for completing their studies without any hindrance. Though some students and teachers and members of this Education infrastructure might face some difficulties in operating this AI-based software, this can be called as the golden opportunity for the education sector to take one step further towards the ED-Tech method of teaching.
