Three AI developments students should know about

Discover three essential AI developments students need to know about, from content generation to immersive learning and automated grading, impacting education and careers.

AI Developing

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is rapidly making its way into every industry, and the education sector is no exception. With so many processes being optimized with AI in schools and colleges, understanding these recent developments is key for students to be able to work with the technology and achieve their best. In this blog post, we’ll share three essential AI developments that could affect students both throughout their educational career, and later on in the world of work.

Assisting research and generating content

Many students use generative AI tools to create content. With just a simple prompt, AI can generate content like essays and research summaries at the click of a button. This can be particularly useful for students who want to study more efficiently, particularly when it comes to tasks like researching and drafting a piece of work, which would usually take many hours of focused study.

However, utilizing generative AI requires an understanding of the tool’s limitations. To use it effectively and ethically, academics should be wary of becoming too reliant on the technology. Problems arise when students use AI to do their work for them, rather than just using it as an inspirational prompt – this could lead to plagiarized work, and penalties or punishments as a result.

Immersive learning and practical skills acquisition

By simulating real-world environments and scenarios, virtual reality (VR) allows students to have immersive experiences that enhance their learning and engagement, helping them to tackle complex concepts with a hands-on approach. This can help to make abstract subjects more tangible, and allows learners to develop their practical skills both in and out of the classroom.

For example, in a biology class, students might take part in a virtual dissection or explore the human anatomy in 3D, helping to foster a deeper understanding of these intricate systems. VR can also cater to a diverse range of learning styles, allowing visual, auditory, and kinesthetic learners access to interactive content, which can help to improve knowledge retention and motivation.

Automated grading

For students to achieve the best possible results in their exams, they need some understanding of how their work is assessed and graded. Many academic institutions use AI tools to automate the grading process, saving valuable time for educators. These tools usually use natural language processing (NLP) and pattern recognition to assess and evaluate the content students have submitted.

Students should know how to optimize their work to suit these tools, ensuring that they’re using language and structures that will be compatible and rank favorably with such systems. In the working world, many employers use AI to assess job applications in a similar fashion, making automated assessments something that will impact students even after they’ve left education.

How can students learn more about AI?

Students can enhance their understanding of AI through a variety of approaches. Many academic institutions are offering AI classes as part of their syllabus, helping to equip their students with the key skills they need. Similarly, most colleges have opportunities to engage with AI-focused communities, whether through their institution, local groups, or online channels.

Students can also experiment with hands-on practice at home, by working on personal projects using AI tools or contributing to open initiatives. For many students, simply keeping up with the latest research, trends, and AI breakthroughs can be enough to stay in the loop when it comes to understanding the latest advancements. Reading academic papers and attending conferences or other events can also help to significantly enhance their understanding of AI technology.

Why keep up with AI developments?

AI is evolving rapidly and its use is widespread, so keeping up with the latest advancements is more or less a necessity – particularly for students who want to stay at the top of their class and achieve new heights, both in and out of the classroom.

If institutions and educators also keep up with the latest developments, they can better equip their students to work with the technology in a way that is beneficial to them. Above all else, it’s crucial to remember that AI will not only affect students in college, but throughout their entire working careers – so educating them on the developments they should know about is key to giving them the best possible start.