AI revolution: Transforming the way we teach and learn

Imagine a classroom where learning is as unique as your fingerprint, where feedback is immediate, and educational tools understand not just what you’re learning, but how you learn best. This is not a glimpse into a distant future; it’s the growing reality in higher education today, thanks to the advent of artificial intelligence (AI).

In October 2023, a Forbes survey of 500 U.S. educators shed light on a transformative shift occurring in classrooms across the nation. With AI’s integration into higher education, the traditional boundaries of teaching and learning are being redefined, offering both opportunities and challenges.

The survey reveals a significant embrace of AI among educators: 60 percent have already integrated AI technologies to enhance teaching and learning. This digital infusion has sparked a debate on AI’s impact, with 55 percent of respondents affirming an improvement in educational outcomes, while 18 percent voice concerns over potential hindrances.

Opportunities and Innovations

The potential of AI in education is vast. Google CEO Sundar Pichai describes AI as “more profound than fire or electricity,” a testament to its transformative power. Similarly, Bill Gates envisions AI as a catalyst for personalized learning, where software adapts to individual learning styles, keeping students engaged and providing immediate feedback.

Jay Dorris, Assistant Professor of Pharmacy Practice at Lipscomb University, sees AI fostering “more robust conversations at all levels of Higher Ed,” which in turn could enhance learning environments. AI’s capacity to sift through “unstructured data,” as Dorris notes, is particularly crucial in fields like healthcare education, where interpreting trends and patterns is key.

Challenges and Concerns

However, the integration of AI is not without its concerns. The Forbes survey indicates that plagiarism (65 percent), reduced human interaction (62 percent), data privacy (42 percent), and potential job displacement (30 percent) are major worries among educators.

Kimberly McCall, Associate Dean of the College of Leadership and Public Service and the Academic Director of the Fred D. Gray Institute of Law, Justice and Society at Lipscomb University, highlights a specific apprehension in the legal field regarding AI’s potential to take over tasks like writing case briefs. The challenge, she suggests, is preparing students to “do this better than a computer,” especially in skills that AI can easily replicate.

The conversation around AI’s role in original work is nuanced. Dorris emphasizes the need for balance and the importance of leveraging AI to encourage critical thinking. “It’s about asking great questions of these AI tools,” he says, underlining the critical thinking skills vital for navigating complex, open-ended questions.

Preparing for the Future

Educators and experts predict a broader but not dominant role for AI in the next decade. While 60 percent foresee its widespread use, there’s a consensus on the importance of maintaining a human touch in education. Gates’s vision of AI-driven software revolutionizing teaching and learning underscores this balance, suggesting a future where technology and human expertise complement each other.

As AI becomes more ingrained in higher education, the need to adapt is clear. “We can’t do things the same way we’ve always done it,” McCall asserts, pointing to the necessity of evolving educational practices to harness AI’s potential fully. She points out, in many ways, that the debate around the use of AI in the classroom is similar to the debate around the use of calculators in the 1970s. “We’ve got to figure out how to best prepare our students for all the tools they’re going to need to be successful.“

The path forward requires ongoing dialogue among educators, students, and policymakers. It’s about leveraging AI’s capabilities to enhance education while addressing the ethical, privacy, and interpersonal challenges that accompany its use.

The AI revolution in higher education represents a dual-edged sword—offering unprecedented opportunities for personalized, efficient learning experiences while posing significant challenges that demand careful consideration and proactive management. As educators navigate this new terrain, the goal remains clear: to enrich the learning experience without losing the essence of human interaction and creativity that lies at the heart of education.

In the words of Dorris, the journey with AI in education is about finding “some degree of balance” between technological innovation and the intrinsically human elements of teaching and learning. As AI continues to evolve, so too must the approach to education. Educators must ensure that students are not just prepared for the jobs of the future but for a future where technology and humanity intersect in ways we are only beginning to understand.

Lipscomb University recently announced the formation of a task force consisting of educators, staff members and administrators. The group will seek to identify and address the challenges of AI and its impact on the university.

Disclaimer: This article was written in consultation with AI as a part of the Web and Mobile Journalism class. Humans conducted the research and interviews. AI created the organization and overall structure based on human prompts.