The Promise of Personalized Learning Never Delivered. Today’s AI Is Different
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In recent years, educators and administrators have been promised that technology will revolutionize learning, only to be let down when reality falls short of expectations. It’s no wonder, then, that educators approach the current buzz around artificial intelligence (AI) with caution. Is this just another overhyped trend, or are we on the verge of a real breakthrough?
The past year has seen the emergence of a new generation of sophisticated systems, such as Open AI’s GPT-4. These large-language models use neural networks trained on vast amounts of data to generate text that closely resembles human writing. By understanding context and patterns, these models can generate relevant, coherent, and creative responses to prompts.
Based on my experience using several of these systems, I believe that we may be witnessing the early stages of a transformative moment, similar to the introduction of web browsers and smartphones. While these early iterations of AI models have their flaws and limitations, they provide a glimpse into what may be possible in the near future. AI assistants could free educators from mundane tasks and allow them to dedicate more time to students. This could lead to a new era of personalized learning, empowering every student to reach their full potential and creating a more equitable and effective educational experience.
There are four reasons why this generation of AI tools is more likely to succeed compared to previous technologies:
1. Improved capabilities: AI systems can now pass standardized tests at various levels, from high school to professional exams in subjects like math, science, coding, history, law, and literature. For example, Google’s Med-PaLM scored at an expert doctor level on the medical licensing exam, providing correct answers and explanations for its responses. These AI systems have shown remarkable improvement in a short period of time. GPT-4, for instance, went from failing the bar exam to scoring in the 90th percentile within four months. It also achieved high scores on other exams like the SAT reading and writing test, LSAT, and Advanced Placement exams.
2. Reasoning abilities: AI models like GPT-4, Microsoft’s Bing Chat, and Google’s Bard are evolving beyond simply storing knowledge. They are becoming sophisticated reasoning engines that can understand and deduce information much like humans. While traditional search engines functioned as guides, directing users to relevant resources, this new generation of AI tools acts as skilled research assistants. They can conduct literature reviews, analyze data and text, synthesize findings, and generate content, stories, and customized lesson plans.
3. Language as interface: These AI systems excel at interpreting and responding to natural language commands, eliminating the need for complex menus or formulas. They can explain concepts in easy-to-understand ways using metaphors and analogies that resonate with people. If a response is confusing, users can ask for it to be rephrased or provide more examples.
4. Unprecedented scale: Unlike many innovations that take time to penetrate the market, AI is rapidly scaling thanks to tech giants like Google, OpenAI, and Microsoft leading the way. Large-language models are being integrated into various products, services, and emerging companies.
These capabilities are already making their way into the classroom through early experiments, offering a glimpse of their potential.
1. Tutoring assistants: AI systems’ ability to understand and generate human-like text enables them to provide personalized tutoring to students. They can offer explanations, guidance, and real-time feedback tailored to each learner’s unique needs and interests. Platforms like Khan Academy and DuoLingo are also piloting GPT-4 powered tutors trained on their specific datasets.
2. Teaching assistants: Teachers often spend hours on administrative tasks like lesson planning and searching for instructional resources, leaving less time for actual teaching. AI, as capable reasoning engines, can automate many of these tasks. They can quickly generate lesson plan ideas, create worksheets, develop quizzes, and translate content for English learners.
By leveraging the power of AI, we have the opportunity to revolutionize education and create a more personalized and effective learning experience for all students. We are at the brink of a new era, and the possibilities are both exciting and promising.
Although these technologies hold great promise, it is important to acknowledge their limitations. They are still struggling with certain mathematical calculations and can sometimes provide inaccurate information. Instead of replacing teachers’ expertise and judgment, they should be used as a supportive co-pilot, enhancing the overall educational experience. Many of these limitations are being addressed through integration with other services, such as Wolfram, which significantly improves mathematical capabilities. In other words, the current state of AI technologies represents their lowest point. Any shortcomings they currently have are likely to be improved in future updates.
The widespread use and rapid adoption of generative AI mean that these benefits are not mere possibilities in the distant future, but achievable realities for students and educators worldwide. By harnessing the power of AI, we can create a future where teaching and learning are not only more effective and fair, but also highly personalized. Students will be empowered to reach their full potential, while teachers will be free to focus on teaching and cultivating meaningful connections with their students.
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