Kavita Arora, a teacher at a school in Mira Road, Thane, says that ever since Gen AI went mainstream, AI tools have become an important support system that has changed the working life of teachers. “We regularly use it to generate topics for extra-curricular activities such as elocutions, debates, and skits. We also use it to generate topics for writing tasks like essays.”
These tools are also incredibly helpful, Kavita says, in developing teaching material such as presentations and lesson plans – an onerous task at the best of times.
Abhinanda Sarkar, academic director at Great Learning, says that AI has fundamentally reshaped the way educators approach teaching and that with AI equipped to handle tasks such as research, content curation, data analysis, and automating routine administrative duties, educators have more time to focus on crafting engaging and interactive lessons. “This flexibility enables teachers to customise each student’s learning experience, tailoring activities to suit their individual needs.” This hyper personalisation of education is frequently touted as one of the biggest advantages of AI tools in the education sector, because we all learn at a different pace and might prefer different learning styles, both of which AI tools are uniquely suited to deliver. It’s also a boon for teachers dealing with differently abled students.
Vamsi Krishna, CEO & cofounder of Vedantu, says their class teachers are empowered with data insights to tailor classes to individual student needs and that this approach is taking personalised learning to new heights.
Peter Spratling, primary school principal for Stonehill International School in Bengaluru, says Stonehill uses an AI platform called Toddle AI that helps them evaluate and refine their learning experiences to better meet the diverse needs of their students. “By analysing student engagement and performance data, we generate ideas for improvement and differentiate our learning opportunities accordingly.”
THE DRAWBACKS
WEF’s April report, while upbeat about the potential of AI to enhance learning experiences and outcomes, also flagged concerns about data privacy, equity, and the displacement of traditional teaching roles. These fears are shared by educators as well.
“AI in education offers personalised learning and efficiency, yet grapples with privacy concerns, biases, and the digital divide. Navigating these challenges requires balancing innovation with ethical responsibility and ensuring equitable access for all learners,” says Rajeshwari BC, school principal for Embassy Academy in Bengaluru.