In the last few years, artificial intelligence (AI) has made advancement in all sectors, including the educational sectors. It has made its way into classrooms as AI tutors around the world, including New Zealand.
New Zealand's educators and developers are beginning to explore the potential of these tools to enhance learning. However, developers and education experts agree that while AI tutors can be beneficial, they should not replace human teachers. In this article you will learn the importance of teachers over AI tutors.
The idea of an AI tutor is slowly gaining momentum with the technology advancements. Using AI tools such as ChatGPT and other AI-driven applications students can receive personalized assistance that improves their learning needs.
A recent study from Harvard University found that students using an AI tutor achieved more than twice the learning gains compared to those in traditional active learning environments. The study revealed a large effect size varying between 0.73 to 1.3, which means it is evident that AI can improve educational outcomes to the maximum when it is designed well.
Companies like LearnCoach and Education Perfect have introduced AI-driven tutorials that help students prepare for exams and improve their understanding of various subjects. LearnCoach has reported over a million sessions with its AI-tutorials this year alone, showing an increasing demand for these high-tech educational tools. These tutorials are useful when students are confused and need help outside of regular class hours
A Harvard University study recently reported that students who used AI tutors reported higher engagements as compared to traditional lecture-based classrooms, with ratings of 4.1 out of 5 as opposed to 3.6 out of 5. Although AI tutors seem to be available whenever we needs, they have both advantages and disadvantages, let's first understand how they are useful for students, below are given few advantages of AI tutors:
Recent studies on AI tutors have drawn mixed results about the effectiveness of AI tutors. Results show that AI tutors contribute to better learning outcomes and reduce anxiety, fear of making mistakes among students, and at the same time, it has drawbacks. For example, giving away answers too easily can lead to over-reliance on AI tutors, discouraging learning. A report from the University of Pennsylvania reveals that students who used AI tutors for their math questions did worse in their tests compared to those who avoided AI tutors.
One of the major issues with AI tutors is the reliability of the information provided by AI tutors. If the AI system is trained on incorrect or biased data, it will provide us misleading information or biased answers.
Despite the benefits of AI tutors, the majority of developers and educators strongly believe that they cannot replace human teachers. The teacher student relationship is based on trust, understanding, and emotional support, all of which AI cannot replace.
Dave Cameron from LearnCoach says, many students recall their favorite subjects because of their favorite teachers. The human side of teaching is important for motivating students by creating an interesting learning environment.
Teachers provide more than academic knowledge; they also provide emotional support, encouragement, and guidance, which the AI cannot replicate. A good teacher can inspire students to develop more critical thinking skills while also cultivating a serene learning environment.
Students over-reliance on AI tutors for answers will reduce their thinking skills. If you're someone who always turns to an AI for help, and never tries to solve problems by yourself, it's possible that you're missing good learning experiences.
AI tutors are promising tools that can support and enhance education, by improving the student experience, but they should not replace human teachers. Because every student will not have access to technology at home. If schools rely on AI tutors without taking steps to ensure that each student has devices and internet connectivity, it might widen the educational gap between those who have resources and those who don't.While AI tutors can provide information and assistance, it cannot offer the emotional support that human teachers provide students during their hard times. A teacher can recognize when a student is struggling emotionally and offer guidance or encouragement.