Artificial Intelligence is set to transform education, and this is what institutional leaders can learn from this development

After six decades of dreaming and experimenting, we may be on the cusp of a revolution in education thanks to technology. The Arizona State Board of Charter Schools recently approved to request From Unbound Academy for a new online school that will replace traditional teachers with artificial intelligence-based teaching assistants, promising to deliver up to 2.4 times academic growth for students compared to the results of traditional schools.

This advance is not the result of another incremental technology experiment – ​​rather, it represents the latest chapter in a 60-year-long endeavor in Computer Assisted Instruction (CAI) to transform education through technology. This time, the evidence points to A Real breakthrough It may be soon. If this academy and similar initiatives succeed, it will be the fulfillment of a long-awaited dream.

The idea of ​​using computers to help students learn dates back to the 1950s First application – Programmed Logic for Automatic Teaching Operations (PLATO) – appeared in 1961. PLATO provided interactive lessons and real-time feedback using terminals connected via telephone lines to a time-sharing computer system. Like other timeshare systems, PLATO ultimately failed due to the high expenses required.

Other attempts at immersive experiential learning include Second Life—an online-accessible virtual world in which people participate as avatars—in the early 2000s. Although not explicitly a CAI tool, Second Life has demonstrated the potential for immersive virtual learning environments. At least one point 300 universities Worldwide including Stanford and Harvard Teaching courses or conducting research on the platform. Ultimately, Second Life suffered due to its poor user interface (UI), strong technical requirements, steep learning curve and inability to scale.

coming Generative artificial intelligence 2017 was a turning point for CAI, with tools such as Writable and Photomath Enhancing both teaching and learning. For example, Writable uses artificial intelligence to provide feedback on students’ writing, helping teachers manage large workloads. like I mentioned By Axios, Writable uses ChatGPT to produce comments and feedback that are sent to the teacher, who is expected to review and edit them before providing feedback to students.

Such tools highlight the growing role that artificial intelligence plays in addressing long-standing resource constraints in traditional education. In some school districts in the United States, elementary school Class sizes exceed 40 students. If a teacher spent 10 minutes reading and critiquing each student’s writing assignment, that would be 400 minutes, or more than 6.6 hours outside of class time, to provide feedback for one assignment. This seems untenable, especially when combined with assessment of other students’ assignments. Technology support will help meet this challenge.

AI-powered teaching at scale

In a more comprehensive approach, the Khan Academyled by founder Sal Khan, has been offering free online educational classes since 2008. In 2023, the company launched KhanmijoAn interactive AI tutor for students that includes ChatGPT.

In a 2023 TED TalkKhan spoke about the potential of Khanmijo to improve student performance. It was discussed in a hadith in 1984 paper Titled “The Two Sigma Problem,” it was written by education professor Benjamin Bloom, then at the University of Chicago and Northwestern University.

The frequently cited paper argued that students receiving one-on-one tutoring performed two standard deviations better than those receiving traditional classroom-only instruction. However, Bloom was aware that this level of tutoring was impractical due to resource constraints including the costs of obtaining human tutors. Bloom believes the solution lies in devising more economical interventions that can come close to the benefits of private tutoring.

By applying AI-enhanced technology, Khanmigo effectively overcomes resource constraints, Khan says. like noRMr. Dr In a case study conducted by Harvard Business School, Khan said Khanmijo could be “the holy grail that we’ve all been reading about in science fiction for years, about artificial intelligence that can mimic a human teacher.”

Some have pointed out flaws in Bloom’s paper, questioned the evidence supporting his conclusion and dismissed these claims as far-fetched. In an effort to “separate science fiction from scientific fact,” Paul von Hippel, a professor and associate dean for research at the Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs at the University of Texas, said: opinion The standard deviation claim is “exaggerated and oversimplified.” However, there is no doubt that applying technology tools can improve educational outcomes.

Balancing efficiency and human connection

while Artificial intelligence tools They show great promise in addressing resource constraints, but their adoption raises broader questions about the role of human communication in learning. Which brings us back to Unbound Academy. Students will spend two hours online each school morning working through AI-driven lessons in math, reading, and science. Tools like KhanmiGo and IXL It will personalize instruction, analyze progress, and adjust difficulty and content in real-time to improve learning outcomes. “This ensures that each student is constantly challenged at their optimal level, preventing boredom or frustration,” the charter application asserts.

The Unbound Academy model significantly reduces the role of human teachers. Instead, human “mentors” provide emotional support and motivation while also leading Workshops On life skills. What will students lose by spending most of their learning time with AI rather than human teachers, and how could this model reshape the teaching profession?

The Unbound Academy model is already used in many private schools and the results obtained are used to prove the benefits it claims. However, it is not clear how the computer-based model will impact a student’s ability to foster human connections outside of the traditional school setting. These issues and questions highlight the complex trade-offs that schools like Unbound Academy must navigate as they redefine the educational landscape.

Is the revolution here?

The academy is not the only case of using AI in schools. Khanmigo is being piloted in 266 school districts in the United States in grades 3-12 I mentioned By CBS, the software is used by teachers as well as students. This pilot offers a glimpse into how AI can be integrated into existing education systems, supporting both teachers and students by enhancing lesson planning, saving time and providing real-time insights into student progress.

CAI has come a long way since Plato, although it took more than 60 years. If successful, AI-based models could democratize access to high-quality education. While AI has the potential to widen existing disparities, it also offers unprecedented opportunities to provide quality education to underserved communities.

As schools like Unbound Academy and those piloting Khanmijo’s pioneering AI-based teaching models, they’re not just testing a new teaching approach — they’re challenging our basic assumptions about how learning happens and the role human teachers should play in the process. The results could reshape education for generations to come.

Gary Grossman is Executive Vice President of Technology Practice at Edelman and global leadership of the Edelman AI Center of Excellence.