AI in Action: How technology is shaping the next generation of learners

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is transforming the educational landscape for students in several significant ways, making learning more personalised, efficient, and accessible while preparing them for a future where digital literacy and AI competencies are essential. AI is important for students for several reasons, impacting both their learning experience and their future in an increasingly digital world. It can tailor educational content to meet the unique needs, learning styles, and proficiency levels of each student. This personalised approach can help students master subjects more effectively by focusing on areas where they need improvement and moving faster through subjects they understand well.

According to Rajni Virmani, a PRT at Apeejay Svran Global School in Faridabad, Sector 21-D, AI is like giving computers or robots the ability to think and learn, a bit like how people do. “It helps them solve problems, understand things, and even make decisions on their own. Just like how you learn new things in school, AI helps computers learn from information and experiences so they can do different tasks better and sometimes even help people in their daily lives,” Virmani said and listed the following things students should know about it.

·         Definition of AI: Understand that AI refers to the simulation of human intelligence in machines that are programmed to think and mimic human actions. It encompasses various subfields such as machine learning, natural language processing, computer vision, and robotics.

·         Applications of AI: Explore the diverse applications of AI in everyday life, including virtual assistants (like Siri and Alexa), recommendation systems (like Netflix and Spotify), autonomous vehicles, healthcare diagnostics, finance, gaming, and more.

·         Machine Learning: Learn about the subset of AI called machine learning, which involves training machines to learn from data and make predictions or decisions without being explicitly programmed. Understand concepts like supervised learning, unsupervised learning, and reinforcement learning.

·         Ethical Considerations: Grasp the ethical implications of AI, including issues related to bias in algorithms, privacy concerns, job displacement due to automation, and the responsible use of AI in decision-making processes.

·         AI Safety: Recognise the importance of AI safety and the need for robust measures to ensure that AI systems operate safely and reliably. This includes designing systems with fail-safes, transparency, and accountability.

·         The Future of Work: Explore how AI is reshaping the workforce and the skills needed to thrive in an AI-driven economy. Understand that while some jobs may be automated, new opportunities will emerge in fields like data science, AI engineering, and human-AI collaboration.

·         Data Literacy: Appreciate the crucial role of data in AI development and understand the importance of data collection, pre-processing, and quality assurance. Learn about data ethics and the responsible handling of data.

·         AI and Creativity: Recognise that AI is not limited to analytical tasks but also has the potential to enhance creativity in fields like art, music, and literature.

·         AI Governance and Regulation: Understand the need for regulatory frameworks to govern the development and deployment of AI technologies. Learn about initiatives aimed at ensuring AI is developed and used in a manner that benefits society as a whole.

·         Continuous Learning: Embrace the idea that AI is a rapidly evolving field, and staying updated with the latest advancements and trends is essential. Cultivate a mindset of continuous learning and exploration to adapt to the changing landscape of AI technology.