Equity and inclusion, practicality and acceptance among academics and staff, and the number of funding institutions need to implement all stand to benefit from these developments in technology.
These tendencies are examined, as is the use of related technology by various educational institutions.
The Advancement of AI in Academic Institutions
Concerns about a return to an “AI winter” appear unwarranted, as progress in the field of artificial intelligence has accelerated throughout the pandemic. According to the “Artificial Intelligence Index Report 2021” published by Stanford University, “technical improvements have started to outstrip the benchmarks to test for them” in the field of natural language processing.
Management systems, proctoring, grading, student information systems, library services, and disability support are just a few examples of where AI is making an appearance in higher education.
The next generation of students (the children of millennials) will be accustomed to witnessing AI technologies in nearly every aspect of their life, making AI a crucial factor in ensuring the long-term viability of higher education institutions. To better accommodate “Generation AI,” as this group of students is being dubbed, educational institutions may need to reevaluate their curricula.
Examine the increasingly sophisticated AI-powered chatbots used in the world of higher education.
An AI-enabled avatar is currently in use at the University of British Columbia, providing students with humanlike responses. The software is a component of Language Chatsim, an application that allows students to practice speaking a foreign language by interacting with an avatar in a simulated setting.
Meanwhile, class transcripts at Penn State are analyzed with a system that relies on natural learning processes. In this approach, teachers can utilize data to infer useful lessons.
Usage of Data Analytics to Optimally Advance Instruction
Academic institutions are amassing vast quantities of information. There is a shortage of teachers who can use this information to further their students’ education.
Students who want to make an impact in education and policy can now receive a Master of Science in Educational Psychology with a focus on Learning Analytics from the University of Wisconsin–Madison. Graduate students learn to make sense of the educational data mining landscape thanks to this curriculum.
To better assist students in improving their study habits and routines, C-ALT recently completed a project in which data visualization played a key role.
The Growth of Open Educational Resources
Open educational resources (OERs) are freely available online resources for teaching and research that can be used by any student.
One such example is a free and public 3D data visualization of the metabolic network created by the Emerging Media Lab at the University of British Columbia. The prospective audience for this OER extends beyond high school to include medical school curricula.
Open educational resources (OERs) have the potential to simplify the learning of difficult concepts while also reducing the cost of a college degree.
The research aims to “offer a novel approach to represent the information contained in a metabolic network” so that it may be more readily absorbed and comprehended, according to the university’s website. We are developing a tool that will make it simpler to view information that previously required a number of different models to display by adding interactivity to the network and visualizing it in three dimensions.
The Business Opportunities that Microcredentials Create in Higher Education
Microcredentials are short-term training courses designed to improve a specific ability. Compared to traditional degree programs, they are shorter and more adaptable. So far, there have been more than 700,000 micro-credentials presented in classrooms, online, and in hybrid settings.
Different types of programs include:
- Badges and quick-study courses
- Training camps
- Credentials and qualifications for a profession
- University degrees and certificates
- Additional College-Level Coursework
Shorter programs can be completed in as little as one to ten hours, while longer, accredited ones can take anywhere from 1,000 to 5,000 hours. In light of projections that the micro-credential market will more than double during the next three to five years, institutions may find this strategy attractive. Meanwhile, the low cost of these widely used initiatives will likely maintain their commitment to advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion.
Increased Funding for High-Class Online Education
Many schools in the world of higher education have progressed above the point of only providing remote learning in cases of emergency. There is a persistent investment in high-calibre digital educational opportunities.
Conclusion
By moving rapidly to adopt the latest technological developments, educational institutions can reap significant benefits. This will ensure that students have a more positive educational experience at the school, as well as increase its worth and reputation.
As a result, while the exact number of educational institutions using the aforementioned technologies and many others in 2022 remains unknown at this time, it is likely that this trend will continue.
In an effort to attract more students who are interested in keeping up with the rapid development of technology, this will also help them achieve hybrid patterns of instruction.