The use of artificial intelligence (AI) is expanding in various fields, and education is no exception. With recent advances (and a strong dose of hype), the question comes up again and again: “Will AI replace human teachers?” Let’s have a look based on what AI can and can’t do! AI can provide personalized learning experiences that have opened up new possibilities for teaching and learning. However, while AI can provide valuable educational tools, it lacks the depth and understanding of why learning certain topics is essential. As we discussed in previous articles, it also lacks empathy, doesn’t understand human emotions, and has a limited understanding of nuance. So, how can AI support our learning, and where should we look to the guidance of human teachers?
AI Provides Information Without Guidance or Wisdom
A great teacher doesn’t just help us learn facts and patterns. They are mentors who guide us on our learning journey. One of the significant limitations of AI as a teacher is its inability to mentor. Mentorship requires a deep understanding of the student’s personal and professional context. As we learned last time, AI “can simulate understanding according to how it is programmed, but it lacks the empathy that humans have to understand it on the same level we do.” Human mentors can draw from their own experiences, empathize with students’ challenges, and offer tailored advice based on a deep understanding of our societies, traditions, and cultures. AI can support mentorship by providing data-driven insights and facilitating communication, but it lacks the comprehensive, empathetic, and adaptive role that human mentors play. AI can give you the “what” and “how,” but it often misses the “why.”
AI Doesn’t Fully Understand Context and Importance
Students learn best when they understand why it’s worth putting their energy into learning. AI does not fully understand the context behind certain topics and can’t help with that why. It knows what the data and feedback it has received have taught it but doesn’t further learn based on experience and observation in the real world as humans do. AI operates based on algorithms and data without the ability to grasp the broader significance of a subject because it lacks the complete understanding of why certain knowledge is needed to thrive in our society. For example, a human teacher understands the importance of historical events not just as facts but in their relevance to current societal issues. AI can present information and answer questions about these events but cannot convey the deeper connections and implications that make learning meaningful.
AI and Critical Thinking
Unlike humans, AI doesn’t have personal experiences, understanding of emotions, and ethical implications necessary to be able to grasp, and hence teach, critical thinking. AI operates within predefined frameworks and algorithms, and it cannot think outside of these boundaries or question its own underlying assumptions, which is a crucial aspect of critical thinking. In addition, humans often use intuition based on their accumulated experiences in their thinking process. AI does not possess intuition in the way humans do. Lastly, critical thinking usually involves making value judgments, which requires a deep understanding of human values and ethics, which AI lacks.
Personalized Learning with AI
Despite these shortcomings, there can be some incredible benefits of utilizing AI for learning. One of AI’s strengths is its ability to adapt to individual students’ learning pace and style. It can collect and analyze masses of data based on a learner’s actions and behaviors and find patterns that allow it to prepare a custom learning experience. It does this based on data and rules given to fulfill this task so that it can be done based on real human learning experiences. The personalized content and resources made by AI make it easier for students to learn at their own pace. This approach can be especially beneficial for students who find traditional classroom setting, where learning is based on a more unified approach, challening, and teachers are limited by the number of students they must follow at once.
Interactive Learning Experiences
AI can also enhance learning through interactive experiences. Not everyone learns the same way, so the more comprehensive the offering for consuming information, the better. With its ability to analyze data, predict needs and interests, and create diverse learning experiences, AI can benefit many learners. Simulations, virtual reality, and gamified learning modules can make learning more engaging and effective. These tools can immerse students in different scenarios, allowing them to explore and learn dynamically and interactively. For instance, virtual reality can take students on virtual field trips to historical sites. Gamified modules can turn learning into an exciting challenge instead of a necessary chore. These experiences can make learning more fun and help students retain information better.
Accessibility and Scalability
Another advantage of AI in education is its ability to teach a large number of students simultaneously without time constraints. AI-powered educational tools can provide 24/7 access to learning resources, making education more accessible to students regardless of their location or schedule. This scalability means that students who might not have access to quality education due to geographical or economic barriers can benefit from AI-driven learning platforms.
Past the Hype – AI vs. Human Teachers
In conclusion, AI has the potential to be an effective teacher, offering a number of personalized learning experiences and interactive tools. It’s crucial to remember that AI excels at providing information rather than fostering wisdom. It can’t help students understand the crucial “why” of the learning process. It can’t answer the question, “Why do I need to learn this anyway? How is it going to help me?” AI can meticulously analyze data to tailor learning paths, but it lacks human mentors’ depth of understanding and empathy. Human teachers act as guides, drawing from their own experiences to connect with students personally and offer tailored advice. AI can support mentorship by providing data-driven insights, but it cannot replicate human mentors’ comprehensive and adaptive role. So, will AI replace human teachers? Based on the facts about what AI can and can’t do, I’d say the answer is a resounding no.
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The image accompanying in this article was provided by Better Images of AI, an organization that is dedicated to providing free images of AI that provide a more nuanced, balanced view of AI.