AI: Transformative Tool to Navigate the Hurdles in Indian Education System

According to the 2021 World Population Review, India has the largest number of millennials and Gen Z on the planet and will have the youngest population over the next decade. Consequently, future of the country will be determined by our ability to provide high quality educational opportunities to them. The Sustainable Development Goal 4 (SDG4) adopted by India aims to provide equitable and inclusive education and promote lifelong learning among the youth. Such a goal will require the entire Indian education system to be restructured topave the way for a brighter, more inclusive future for millions of students. 

NEP (New Education Policy) 2020 formulated by the Government of India is a step ahead towards this direction. With changing employment scenario and VUCA (Volatility, Uncertainty, Complexity and Ambiguity) global ecosystem it becomes imperative to make children ‘learn how to learn’ for their social, emotional, and physical wellbeing. The New Education Policy proposes various measures to address all the developmental imperatives of the country. It aims to reconfigure all aspects of education structure and emphasizeson the development of future ready individuals by 2040. 

The emergence of Artificial Intelligence (AI) has brought disruptive changes in every domain and education is no exception. The Indian education system faces numerous challenges including rigid curriculum approach, rote memorization, uneven quality of education, lack of sufficient infrastructure, low teacher student ratio and dearth of professional development programmes for teachers to name a few. Robust policy formulation, dedicated commitment of educational institutes along with effective utilization of AI will enable the country to address these challenges. The integration of AI in the education sector has led to significant advancements, transforming how students learn, teachers instruct and governance of educational institutions. AI offers transformative solutions to address these bottlenecks promising the attainment of SDG4 of inclusive, equitable and efficient education experience. This article explores how AI can function as a power tool to navigate these challenges and revolutionize the Indian Education System. 

Personalized Learning Experience

AI enables personalized learning experiences by analysing student data to tailor educational content and pace to individual needs and preferences. This approach ensures that each student receives the appropriate level of challenge and support, enhancing their overall learning experience. AI also makes it easier to analyze data in real time, giving teacher’s insight into students’ comprehension, engagement, and problem areas. AI-powered intelligent tutoring systems provide individualized instruction by adjusting to the speed at which pupils pick up new material. This not only improves the educational process but also gives teachers insightful feedback that helps them improve their teaching methods (Kabudi, Papapas& Olsen, 2021, Zhai, et al., 2021). AI-driven personalized learning platforms such as interactive simulations and virtual reality enhance student engagement and improves learning outcomes. The integration of AI with personalized learning accommodates the unique attributes of each student and fosters a dynamic learning environment. 

Intelligent Tutoring System 

AI embedded intelligent tutoring systems provide instant feedback and personalized support to improve learning and teaching capabilities The Intelligent Tutoring Systems (ITS) are computer programs that use artificial intelligence (AI) to simulate one-on-one human tutoring. Without the assistance of human teachers, ITS can be incredibly interactive, adaptive, and capable of customizing students’ learning by giving them personalized instructions and fast feedback (Erümit& Çetin, 2020). These systems adapt to students learning styles and paces, helping them grasp complex concepts more effectively. Investing in AI will provide intelligent tutors to students and will solve the problem of teacher shortage faced by school system. 

Automated Grading and Assessment

AI has revolutionized grading by automating the assessment process. AI tools evaluate assignments, detect plagiarism, and develop detailed feedback, reducing administrative burden on teachers and allowing them to focus on instruction. Teachers and professors can concentrate on other important facets of education, such lesson planning and individualized student feedback, because automated grading systems drastically cut down on the time and effort needed to analyze tests. The automated grading systems adhere to a predetermined set of guidelines and norms, which guarantee impartial and unbiased assessments for every student. AI can evaluate the accuracy, coherence, and applicability of the students’ responses, giving important information about how well they comprehend the material. This enables teachers to identify areas where students might be struggling and design their teaching pedagogies accordingly. 

Enhanced Teacher Support

AI assists teachers by automating administrative tasks such as attendance tracking, scheduling and reporting. Subsequently teachers get more time to focus on developing 21st Century skills like critical thinking, problem solving, communication, creativity and collaboration. Additionally, AI powered professional development platforms offer personalized training and resources, helping teachers improve their skills and stay updated with upcoming educational trends. 

Remote Learning

AI has facilitated the development of online classrooms, enhancing remote learning capabilities. Platforms like Microsoft Soft Teams, Zoom, and Google Classroom enhance the teaching learning experience by incorporating AI features such as real time language translation, automatic attendance, and relevant content recommendations. 

Informed Decision Making

Educational institutions use AI for predictive analysis to identify students how are underperforming and facing some sort of academic or developmental problem. This enables educators to intervene on time and take remedial action for student support. Furthermore, academic institutes leverage AI to analyse large volumes of data for taking informed decisions pertaining to curriculum development, faculty enrichment, and resource mobilization. Such valuable insights enable institutions to optimize their operations and attain educational outcomes. 

Conclusion

AI has made significant impacts in all areas, and the field of education is no exception. AI is leading the path towards a more efficient, inclusive, and effective education system by customizing learning experiences, assisting teachers, streamlining administrative tasks, and increasing accessibility to education. Incorporating AI into education offers hope for tackling enduring problems and building a better tomorrow for both students and educators.

AI is a powerful tool that can significantly contribute to achieving the goals outlined in NEP 2020. By personalizing learning experiences, enhancing teacher training, supporting data-driven decision-making, and promoting quality education, AI helps in creating a more flexible, equitable, and future-ready education system in India. As AI technology continues to evolve, its potential to support and enhance the NEP goals will also grow, paving the way for a transformative educational experience for all students. 

References

Atif, A., Jha, M., Richards, D., & Bilgin, A. A. (2021). Artificial Intelligence (AI)-enabled remote learning and teaching using Pedagogical Conversational Agents and Learning Analytics. In Intelligent systems and learning data analytics in online education (pp. 3-29). Academic Press.

Ayeni, O. O., Al Hamad, N. M., Chisom, O. N., Osawaru, B., & Adewusi, O. E. (2024). AI in education: A review of personalized learning and educational technology. GSC Advanced Research and Reviews, 18(2), 261-271.

González-Calatayud, V., Prendes-Espinosa, P., & Roig-Vila, R. (2021). Artificial intelligence for student assessment: A systematic review. Applied sciences, 11(12), 5467.

Kabudi, T., Pappas, I., & Olsen, D. H. (2021). AI-enabled adaptive learning systems: A systematic mapping of the literature. Computers and Education: Artificial Intelligence, 2, 100017.

Nwana, H. S. (1990). Intelligent tutoring systems: an overview. Artificial Intelligence Review, 4(4), 251-277.

Saxena, Y. K., & Agarwal, H. (2022). India’s New Education Policy 2020: Its Implications, Challenges and Strategies for AI Revolution in Education System. Journal of Commerce and Trade, 17(2), 32-37.

Tjark Huizinga, Adam Handelzalts, Nienke Nieveen& Joke M. Voogt (2014) Teacher involvement in curriculum design: need for support to enhance teachers’ design expertise, Journal of Curriculum Studies, 46:1, 33-57, DOI: 10.1080/00220272.2013.834077

Zhai, X., Chu, X., Chai, C. S., Jong, M. S. Y., Istenic, A., Spector, M., … & Li, Y. (2021). A Review of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Education from 2010 to 2020. Complexity, 2021, 1-18.

https://www.education.gov.in/sites/upload_files/mhrd/files/NEP_Final_English_0.pdfretrived
on 27th July 2024

About the Author

Dr. Nivedita Singh

Ph.D., NET-JRF, MBA, B.Sc.  

Educator, Admission Coordinator & Academic Counselor,

Teoler High School, Jaipur