Artificial intelligence in education

The integration of artificial intelligence (AI) into the education system offers enormous opportunities, but also poses challenges and requires the necessary framework conditions to be established. Educational institutions, including schools and universities, face the important task of implementing this transformative technology in an effective and meaningful way. In this article, we look at the various aspects of how educational institutions should deal with AI, what legal and ethical frameworks are required, and how AI could change learning in the future.

Opportunities and framework conditions for AI at educational institutions

Artificial intelligence has the potential to fundamentally change the education system. Personalised learning platforms, automated assessments and intelligent tutoring systems can make the education process more efficient and individual. However, schools and universities must ensure that they create the right framework conditions to fully utilise these opportunities.
A key prerequisite is infrastructure. Educational institutions need a robust IT infrastructure that supports the use of AI technologies. This includes hardware, such as powerful computers and servers, as well as suitable software. Data protection is also a decisive factor. The storage and processing of pupil and student data must meet the highest security standards in order to protect privacy.

Dealing with AI in education

Dealing with AI in education requires a well thought-out strategy and clear guidelines. Educational institutions must define how AI systems are to be used and what objectives are to be pursued with them. This starts with the selection of suitable AI tools and extends to the implementation and continuous monitoring of their use.
Transparency is an important consideration. Pupils, students and teachers need to understand how and why AI systems are used. This promotes trust and acceptance of the technology. In addition, regular evaluations should be carried out to check the effectiveness of AI applications and make adjustments where necessary.

Permitted and non-permitted applications of AI

The question of what is and is not permitted in relation to AI in education is complex and varies depending on the legal framework and institutional guidelines. In principle, AI applications that support and promote the learning process should be welcomed. This includes personalised learning environments, automated feedback systems and adaptive learning platforms that adjust to the individual progress of learners.
Applications that undermine the autonomy of learners or misuse their data are not permitted or should at least be viewed critically. For example, AI systems that make decisions about the future of pupils and students, such as admissions or assessments, should be used with the utmost caution. Such systems must be transparent and comprehensible and must not be used without human scrutiny.
It is essential to create clear regulations for the use of AI applications such as Chat GPT and to ensure that users think independently and reflect critically despite their use. AI is a tool that can be compared to a bad assistant. It reduces workload and increases work efficiency, but must always be checked and used correctly.

Training of teaching staff

Successful integration of AI into the education system requires well-trained teaching staff. Teachers not only need to understand the technical aspects of AI, but also the didactic possibilities and limitations. Training should be comprehensive and cover topics such as the use of AI tools, the interpretation of AI-generated data and the ethical implications of using AI.

Source: Statista 2024

According to a recent survey of school authorities in Germany, some AI technologies were already in use at many schools at the end of 2020 / beginning of 2021. AI-driven translation tools were used by 69% of the school authorities surveyed, while smart education, i.e. AI-based tools such as language assistants and automatic text recognition, were used by 55% of schools. These figures illustrate that AI has already found its way into the education system, which emphasises the need to train teaching staff to make the most of the benefits of these technologies and deal with the challenges properly.
In addition, teachers should be empowered to teach pupils and students how to use AI. This includes both the use of AI-based learning tools and the critical questioning and understanding of AI decisions and AI results.

How AI can change learning

AI has the potential to transform the learning experience. Through personalised learning environments, lessons can be adapted to the individual needs and abilities of each student. Adaptive learning platforms can recognise learners' strengths and weaknesses in real time and adapt the curriculum accordingly.
One aspect could be support from AI-supported tutors who can answer questions, provide learning materials and give feedback. In the future, traditional tutoring by parents or private tutors could be partially replaced by AI systems. These are available around the clock and can respond to the individual needs of learners. However, human interaction will continue to play an important role in the educational process, especially when it comes to teaching social and emotional skills. Although AI tools such as Chat GPT can provide efficient learning aids, the human component remains indispensable in the educational process.

Professional development for teaching staff

Targeted training of teaching staff is essential in order to maximise the benefits of AI and effectively overcome the challenges. This is where specialised consulting companies such as flound. come into play.
We offer tailor-made training programmes that comprehensively prepare teachers for dealing with new technologies. During our alive. training programmes, we go far beyond simple training courses, as they include the development of individual training concepts that are tailored to the specific needs and requirements of the respective educational institution. We not only impart technical knowledge, but also didactic methods for implementing AI in the classroom in a meaningful way.
Another important aspect of the training courses is the teaching of ethical and legal principles. Teachers learn how to protect pupils' privacy and at the same time fully utilize the possibilities of AI. This also includes the critical handling of AI-generated data and the ability to correctly interpret and evaluate the results of AI systems.
Collaboration between counselling and educational institutions can ensure that their teachers are optimally prepared for the opportunities and challenges of the digital transformation. This not only contributes to the quality of teaching, but also promotes acceptance of and trust in new technologies.

Conclusion

The integration of artificial intelligence in education offers enormous opportunities, but also challenges. Educational institutions must create the right framework conditions in order to use this technology sensibly and ethically. This includes a solid infrastructure, the protection of privacy and the training of teaching staff.
The use of AI can automate, personalise and improve learning, but it cannot completely replace the human component in the educational process. The future of learning will be a combination of human interaction and technological support, with AI playing a supporting role.
Educational institutions must therefore carefully consider how they use AI in order to fully utilise the potential of this technology without losing sight of the ethical and social aspects. Only in this way can AI become a valuable tool that shapes and improves the education of tomorrow. educational institutions can ensure that their teachers are well prepared for the opportunities and challenges of the digital transformation. This not only contributes to the quality of teaching, but also promotes acceptance of and trust in new technologies.