Edtech Solutions: Experts canvass for massive integration of AI to improve learning outcomes

Experts in the education technology space have advocated the need for governments, educators, and other stakeholders to integrate Artificial Intelligence in curriculum development to improve learning outcomes for students and teachers.

This was the takeout at the September edition of Edtech Mondays, an initiative of the Co-Creation Hub (CCHUB) in partnership with the Mastercard Foundation’s Centre for Innovative Teaching & Learning in ICT. The engagement session themed “Evaluating the Impact of Artificial Intelligence in Education” was moderated by Practice Lead, Education, CcHUB, Chinyelu Akpa.

One of the panelists, Co-Founder of Simbi Interactive, Sadiq Elusoji, while acknowledging the growing acceptance and adoption of AI-aided apps such as Simbibot, said there is a need for the federal government and non-governmental institutions tooffer support to make learning products that leverage AI more accessible.

Elusoji while downplaying some of the concerns raised, maintained that AI-aided learning tools are designed to help andmake learning personal. He allayed teachers’ fears that the app was not designed to replace their jobs but to upskill them. According to him, the potential of Ai is so immense that currently we are just scratching the surface, and there is still more to be explored in education.

Also speaking, technology expert in AI image processing Dr. Olumide Okubadejo in his view stated that AI remains a tool with the potential to automate learning and grading schemes, optimize personalized learning, and scale tech businesses.

Okubadejo urged the government, relevant institutions, and other stakeholders to leverage Al to scale tech businesses and overcome market adoption and connectivity challenges. He stressed the need for public-private partnerships to make data accessible for research and startup use.

A Mathematics teacher at Holy Child College, Oluwatobi Babatunde, while analyzing the impact of AI on education from a teacher’s perspective, stated that AI should be seen as a tool to complement the role of teachers, not as a replacement.

Babatunde, who shared her motivation for teaching which is rooted in her love for mathematics and a desire to help the unlearned, stated that teachers need to adapt and use AI creatively. She further addressed concerns about AI-generated homework, stressing the need for teachers to understand their students’ capabilities and set age limits for AI use to prevent misuse.

Another expert in AI and robotics, Chika Yinka-Banjo, stated that effort should be channeled towards ensuring equitable access to Al technologies in education. Highlighting the role of her laboratory in training students and teachers, Yinka-Banjo restated that AI would not take teaching jobs but rather enhance creativity and efficiency in teaching. She said that learning outcomes were bound to improve with the adoption of AI tools and better teacher training in schools.