The Impact of Artificial Intelligence on Higher Education

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Ross Morrison McGill founded @TeacherToolkit in 2007, and today, he is one of the ‘most followed educators’on social media in the world. In 2015, he was nominated as one of the ‘500 Most Influential People in Britain’ by The Sunday Times as a result of…
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How is artificial intelligence shaping the future of teaching and learning?

AI is transforming education, but teachers must balance its benefits and risks to ensure it enhances learning, not replaces them, or the critical thinking skills we need to build.

AI, human intervention, or both?

The Impact of Artificial Intelligence on Higher EducationArtificial Intelligence (AI) is changing how schools and colleges operate, from automating admin tasks to personalising student learning. But while AI offers exciting opportunities, it also continues to raise concerns about privacy, bias, and reducing human interaction in classrooms.

I remember marking a pile of tests on many late evenings, thinking, “There must be a quicker way to do this.” Years later, I trialled an online quiz platform to automate homework marking back to students — and it transformed how I worked, but not the conversations I had with students.

In a new research paper, The Impact of Artificial Intelligence on Higher Education in England (Karimi & Khawaja, 2023), explore the benefits and challenges of AI.

AI tools like the example I mention above have already reshaped education, but they raise questions: Could they replace the unique, human interactions that make teaching so powerful?

From automated marking to virtual tutors, AI offers personalised learning experiences by adjusting resources to meet each student’s needs. AI can also handle routine admin tasks, like grading and timetabling, freeing up teachers to focus on their core role – teaching. However, it’s not just about saving time. AI can analyse data to help teachers spot learning gaps and offer tailored interventions, and here lies some ‘joy’ for many teachers!

But here’s the big question: will AI enhance teaching, or could it reduce the critical role of teachers in classrooms?

Why should teachers pay attention to AI?

AI has the potential to make teaching more efficient and inclusive. Adaptive platforms can adjust to students’ needs, helping those who struggle to keep up and stretching high achievers. It can also make learning more accessible, offering tools like text-to-speech for SEND students.

But the risks are real.

AI systems rely on large amounts of data, raising concerns about data privacy and fairness. Bias in algorithms is another risk – if AI is trained on biased data, it may reinforce stereotypes or lead to unfair outcomes for students. Research already suggests this is happening …

Teachers, particularly schools and colleges need to think carefully about how to use AI responsibly, ensuring it supports learning rather than undermines trust and equity in education.

Three practical benefits

  1. Personalised learning: Use AI-driven platforms to tailor resources to each student’s ability = instant feedback.
  2. Streamlining admin: Automate tasks like marking and attendance to free up time for teaching.
  3. Data-driven decisions: Use AI insights to identify patterns in student performance = timely interventions.

On my teacher training travels, I’ve already discovered how schools and colleges are approaching artificial intelligence training, and it is new for us all, so teachers need time to upskill and understand how to use AI effectively. Start small – trial low-stakes AI tools for tasks like marking quizzes before exploring more complex applications across the organisation. Any impact on outcomes is too early to state …

Reflection questions for teachers to consider

  1. How is AI reducing your workload in school or college?
  2. Are there current tasks you’d like to automate to save time?
  3. How can you ensure AI tools you use are fair and unbiased?
  4. What privacy concerns do you have about using AI with students?
  5. How can schools and colleges train staff to use AI responsibly?
  6. Could AI help you personalise lessons more effectively?
  7. How would you balance AI with traditional classroom methods?
  8. What SEND needs could AI help you address?
  9. Could AI help you spot learning gaps earlier?
  10. How might AI affect student motivation and critical thinking?

The research concludes:

Since the landscape of AI technologies and regulations is rapidly evolving, [schools, colleges and universities] need to stay agile to effectively harness the potential of AI …




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